Economics and fertility status of organic and inorganic fertilizer-applied soil in sweet corn (Zea mays) cultivation

Abstract

A rainfed field experiment was laid out during the rainy season of 2019 at the Research farm of Raj Mohini Devi College of Agriculture and Research Station, Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on economic viability and residual nutrient status of soil in sweet corn (Zea mays L. saccharata). The experiment comprised 2 sources of organic manures, viz. vermicompost and FYM together with no organic manure and 3 levels of fertilizers, viz. 50%, 75% and 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) (120, 60 & 40 kg N, P and K/ha respectively) and replicated trice. The result showed that, the application of 3 t vermicompost/ha resulted in the highest growth and yield attributes as well as cob and fodder yields, followed by 5 t FYM/ha and both these treatments proved significantly superior to no organic manure. However, 100% RDF recorded higher value of these parameters and was found significantly superior to 75% and 50% RDF. The highest dehusked cob yield (14.9 t/ha) and net returns (` 147,265.2/ha) were obtained with 3.0 t vermicompost/ha + 100% RDF. Different organic sources did not cause any significant effect on available N, P and K but significantly enhanced organic carbon content of the soil. Nutrient levels had significant effect on available N, P and K of the soil at harvesting.