Integrated Weed and Nutrient Management Improve Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Economics of Maize in the Rice-Maize Cropping System of Eastern India

Abstract

Increasing productivity of maize while decreasing production costs and maintaining soil health are emerging challenges for the rice–maize system in South Asia. A range of integrated nutrient and weed management practices were tested in winter maize for their effects on yield, profitability, and soil health. The nutrient management treatments were a partial substitution of nitrogen with bulky (Farmyard manure; vermicompost) and concentrated organic manures (Brassicaceous seed meal, BSM; neem cake), whereas weed management practices compared chemical controls only versus an integrated approach. The N supplementation through BSM diminished the weed growth by reducing weed N uptake, and enhanced the maize crop uptake of nutrients. As compared to the sole chemical approach, atrazine-applied pre-emergence followed by hoeing reduced weed density by 58 and 67% in years 1 and 2, respectively. The N supplementation through BSM resulted in the maximum yield of maize grain (6.13 and 6.50 t ha−1 in year 1 and year 2, respectively) and this treatment increased yield in year 2 compared to N application through synthetic fertilizer. Hoeing in conjugation with herbicide enhanced the maize grain yield by 9% over herbicide alone. The maximum net return and economic efficiency were achieved with the application of BSM for N supplementation, together with the integrated weed management practice.

Removal of Biomass and Nutrients by Weeds and Direct-Seeded Rice under Conservation Agriculture in Light-Textured Soils of North-Western India

“…The trend of macronutrient uptake showed a strong positive correlation with the weed biomass. Similar results have been reported earlier, where the trend of N uptake by weeds was well corroborated with weed biomass [29]. Higher weed biomass led to more weed-crop competition for nutrients which resulted in higher nutrient uptake by weed under ZTW-R.…”

Assessment of Energy Budgeting and Its Indicator for Sustainable Nutrient and Weed Management in a Rice-Maize-Green Gram Cropping System

“…The experimental site was situated at 88 • 27 N latitude and 22 • 59 E longitude, with an altitude of 7.9 m above the mean sea level. The experimental soil was typical of Gangetic alluvium (Entisol), having moderate fertility, and the initial physicochemical properties of the experimental soil are described in a previously published paper in Agronomy [26]. The field had an irrigation facility throughout the year and slope of the land was medium.…”

“…The field had an irrigation facility throughout the year and slope of the land was medium. The climate of the area is sub-tropical humid in nature and details of it are described in a previously published paper in Agronomy [26].…”

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Dry Matter Accumulation and Nutrient Uptake by Maize (Variety-MS 2) under Poplar Agroforestry System

“…and micronutrients is essential to ensure optimal crop output. Furthermore, one of the most critical elements influencing maize crop development and yield productivity is fertiliser management [4]. Chemical fertilisers can alter soil pH, disrupt beneficial microbial ecosystems, increase pests, and possibly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.…”