International Journal of Chemical Studies 2021; 9(1): 1476-1479

P-ISSN: 2349–8528
E-ISSN: 2321–4902
www.chemijournal.com Effect of NPK levels with bio-fertilizers on
IJCS 2021; 9(1): 1476-1479
© 2021 IJCS productivity of maize (Zea mays L.)
Received: 18-11-2020
Accepted: 27-12-2020
Satybhan Singh, Himanshu Singh, Pradeep Kumar, Virendra Singh,
Satybhan Singh
School of Agricultural Sciences &
Sandeep Kumar and Rajat Singh
Engineering, IFTM University,
Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/chemi.2021.v9.i1u.11431
India
Abstract
Himanshu Singh Maize is an important cereal crop which is utilized as a human food as well as raw material for
School of Agricultural Sciences & processing industries. However, yield losses are prominent due to the improper nutrient management
Engineering, IFTM University,
practices. Hence the study was carried out on “Effect of NPK Levels with Bio-Fertilizers on Productivity
Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh,
of Maize (Zea mays L.)” during summer season of 2019 at the Agricultural research farm of IFTM
India
University, Lodhipur Rajput, Moradabad (U.P.). There are Nine treatment combinations were comprised
Pradeep Kumar in randomized block design with three replications. The treatment combinations are T1-50% RDF
School of Agricultural Sciences & Control, T2-50% RDF+VAM, T3-50% RDF+VAM +Vermicompost, T4-100% RDF, T5-100%
Engineering, IFTM University, RDF+VAM, T6-100% RDF+VAM+Vermicompost, T7-150% RDF, T8-150% RDF+VAM and T9-150%
Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, RDF+VAM+Vermicompost. Maize variety Pioneer P-3377 was sown 50 × 20 cm spacing in sandy loam
India soil with 120: 60: 40 kg ha-1 RDF. Treatment T9-150% RDF+VAM+Vermicompost was observed
significant increase in all growth attributes viz., plant height (219.00 cm), number of leaves (15.75 plant-
Virendra Singh 1), fresh weight (840.10 g plant-1), dry weight (141.00 g plant-1) at harvesting stage as well as on yield
School of Agricultural Sciences & attributes such as number of cobs (2.10 plant-1) length of cobs (23.30 cm), number of grains (260.00 cob-
Engineering, IFTM University, 1), seed index (28.45 g), grain yield (43.63 q ha -1), stover yield (74.77 q ha-1), biological yield (118.40 ha-
Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, 1), harvest index (36.90%).
India

Sandeep Kumar
Keywords: Maize, NPK levels, VAM, vermicompost
School of Agricultural Sciences &
Engineering, IFTM University, Introduction
Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the major cereal crops and is a very versatile grain that benefits
India mankind in many ways. It is a versatile crop and ranks third following wheat and rice in world
Rajat Singh
production as reported by food and agriculture organization [1]. Maize is a staple human food, a
School of Agricultural Sciences & feed for livestock and raw material for many industrial products. It is an important food crop
Engineering, IFTM University, grown commercially in large scale and subsistence level by many resource poor farmers. In
Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, advanced countries, it is an important source of many industrial products such as corn sugar,
India corn oil, corn flour, starch, syrup, brewer’s grit and alcohol [2].
Nutrient management is an important factor for achieving the potential yield in maize
production systems because mineral nutrients are the major contributors to increasing crop
production [3]. Finding the best approaches to achieve efficient nutrient management systems is
very essential both for economic and environmental reasons. Nitrogen, either in organic or
inorganic forms is universally accepted as a key component to high yield in maize production
[4]
. Nitrogen is a component of a number of compounds, e.g. proteins, nucleic acids and
chlorophyll; and plays important role in many plant physiological processes. In particular, it is
important in the efficient capture and use of solar radiation [5]. It mediates the utilization of
potassium, phosphorus and other elements in the plant. The optimum amount of these elements
in the soil cannot be utilized efficiently if N is deficient in plants. Therefore, N deficiency can
reduce maize yield substantially [6].
Phosphorus is essential in the plants for photosynthesis, respiration and energy transfer.
Corresponding Author: Phosphorus use efficiency in maize fields is critically important, since this nutrient constitutes
Himanshu Singh one of the most limiting factors to production [7]. Indian soils are characterized by high
School of Agricultural Sciences & variation of climate conditions and low levels of available phosphorus. In this case, the lack of
Engineering, IFTM University,
Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh,
phosphorus is due to strong interaction of this nutrient with soil colloids, which causes high
India setting and low availability [8, 9]. The high adsorption power of these soils requires a
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International Journal of Chemical Studies http://www.chemijournal.com

greater amount of nutrient to be applied per unit of dry matter and Murate of potash. Half dose of nitrogen and full doses of
produced, causing the soil to establish strong competition phosphorus and potassium were applied basally at the time of
with the plant for the phosphorus available in solution [7]. sowing. Observations on growth and yield attributes were
Potassium has greater ability to produce tolerance in plant recorded from five tagged plants randomly from the net plots,
body. Hence, potassium can improve production and quality while the grain and straw yield was recorded from each net
to fulfill the current food requirements under ever reducing plot in kg and converted into q ha-1 by multiplying the
irrigation water scenario [10]. conversion factor.
The application of synthetic fertilizers on maize and other
crops have certain adverse effects on the human health and Result and Discussion
wellbeing. Biofertilizers are the natural living microorganisms Growth Parameters
which are established either symbiotic relationship with the The plant height was recorded significantly maximum (219.00
plant or are found at the rhizospheric soils of the plant and cm) respectively, from treatment T9 – 150% RDF + VAM +
also increases the supply of nutrients to the plants. Vermicompost (Table-1). It is attributed due to the sufficient
Vermicompost is the use of variety of worms called worm availability of plant nutrients to maize plant up to the
castings, worm humus that has high saturated nutrients than maturity. Because of bio-fertilizers might enhance the plant
do organic materials have. It has huge water-soluble nutrients height and productivity by synthesizing phyto-hormones,
for which these vermicompots are popular organic fertilizers. increasing in local availability of nutrients, facilitating the
In this paper which is also a review paper will describe the uptake of nutrients by the plants and decreasing the heavy
findings of experimental data on the effect of biofertilizers metal toxicity in the plant antagonizing plant pathogens. Same
and vermicompost on the maize fields in India and other finding also reported by [13].
countries outside India with comparison to the synthetic Number of leaves plant-1 was recorded significantly
fertilizers [11]. maximum (15.76) respectively, from treatment T9 – 150%
RDF + VAM + Vermicompost (Table-1). It is attributed due
Materials and Methods to the more plant height was found under this treatment
A field experiment on the “Effect of NPK Levels with Bio- ultimately number of leaves was increased because of
Fertilizers on Productivity of Maize (Zea mays L.)” was sufficient availability of plant nutrients to maize plant. It
conducted during summer season of 2019, at the research might be attributed due to the bio-fertilizers enhance the plant
farm of IFTM University, Moradabad (U.P.). The height by synthesizing phyto-hormones, increasing in local
experimental site lies between 28° 49′ North latitude and 78° availability of nutrients, facilitating the uptake of nutrients by
38′ East longitudes above mean sea level of 193.23 meters. the plants and decreasing the heavy metal toxicity in the
There are nine treatment combinations were comprised in plants antagonizing plant pathogens. Same findings also
randomized block design with three replications. The reported by [11].
treatment combinations are T1 – 50% RDF Control, T2 – 50% The fresh and dry weight (g plant-1) of maize was recorded
RDF + VAM, T3 – 50% RDF + VAM + Vermicompost, T4 – significantly highest at harvesting [(840.10 g) and (141.00 g
100% RDF, T5 – 100% RDF + VAM, T6 – 100% RDF + plant-1)] respectively, from treatment T9 – 150% RDF + VAM
VAM + Vermicompost, T7 – 150% RDF, T8 – 150% RDF + + Vermicompost (Table-1). It is attributed due to the
VAM and T9 – 150% RDF + VAM + Vermicompost. Healthy maximum plant height and a greater number of leaves was
seeds of maize variety Pioneer P-3377 was sown at 50 × 20 found in this treatment because of photosynthesis enhanced in
cm spacing in sandy loam soil. The recommended doses of the presence of VAM and vermicompost as one of the studied
NPK were applied @ 120: 60: 40 kg ha-1. The graded levels bio-fertilizers, stimulated shoot and root dry weight Same
of NPK were applied through Urea, Diammonium phosphate findings also reported by [13, 14, 15].

Table 1: Growth parameters of maize as influenced by different levels of NPK and bio-fertilizers
Treatments Plant height (cm) No. of leaves plant-1 Fresh weight (g plant-1) Dry weight (g plant-1)
T1 – 50% RDF (Control) 196.60 12.03 473.66 73.16
T2 – 50% RDF + VAM 201.16 13.30 529.76 90.83
T3 – 50% RDF + VAM + Vermicompost 204.00 13.30 598.93 94.66
T4 – 100% RDF 208.33 13.96 618.16 104.83
T5 – 100% RDF + VAM 209.23 14.40 647.20 107.99
T6 – 100% RDF + VAM + Vermicompost 211.31 14.66 680.00 111.00
T7 – 150% RDF 215.06 14.94 768.53 118.83
T8 – 150% RDF + VAM 216.33 15.61 8.7.86 130.00
T9 – 150% RDF + VAM + Vermicompost 219.00 15.75 840.10 141.00
SE(m)± 0.564 0.235 0.727 0.564
C.D. at 5% 1.707 0.709 2.199 1.705

Yield attributes with vermicompost can able to form a network in plant roots
Number of cobs plant-1 was failed to touch the level of for enhancement of nutrients movement and enable plants
significance from various treatments (Table-2). It is attributed more tolerance to environmental stresses ultimately cob
due to this character is genetically governed. The results are length was increased. Same finding also reported by [13, 15, 17].
in conformity with those already reported by [16]. Number of grain cob-1 was recorded significantly maximum
Cob length recorded significantly maximum (23.30 cm), with (260.00), from treatment T9 – 150% RDF + VAM +
the application of treatment T9 – 150% RDF + VAM + Vermicompost (Table-2). It is attributed due to the VAM
Vermicompost (Table-2). It is attributed due to the more along with vermicompost activates several plant enzymes that
availability of nutrients. The application of VAM fungi along are involved in carbohydrate metabolism, protein synthesis
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and pollen formation ultimately increase in number of grains T9 – 150% RDF + VAM + Vermicompost (Table-2). The
cob-1 and increased cob length has positively influenced the improvement in 100 seed weight is mainly attributed to
number of grains cob-1. Same findings also reported by [13, 16]. complementary role of VAM and vermicompost in the whole
Significantly maximum 100 seed weight (28.45 g) life cycle of crop plants. Same findings also reported by [13, 15].
respectively, was recorded with the application of treatment

Table 2: Yield attributes of maize as influenced by different levels of NPK and bio-fertilizers
Treatments No. of cobs plant-1 Cob length (cm) No. of grains cob-1 100 seed weight (g)
T1 – 50% RDF (Control) 1.00 9.16 140.00 19.33
T2 – 50% RDF + VAM 1.10 11.83 147.66 21.43
T3 – 50% RDF + VAM + Vermicompost 1.30 12.33 158.00 22.33
T4 – 100% RDF 1.20 15.03 168.33 23.00
T5 – 100% RDF + VAM 1.25 16.98 174.00 23.52
T6 – 100% RDF + VAM + Vermicompost 1.50 18.35 183.66 24.30
T7 – 150% RDF 1.30 21.85 202.33 25.24
T8 – 150% RDF + VAM 1.50 22.05 226.00 26.19
T9 – 150% RDF + VAM + Vermicompost 2.10 23.30 260.00 28.45
SE(m)± 0.133 0.397 0.862 0.423
C.D. at 5% N/S 1.200 2.608 1.278

Yields Harvesting index shows the physiological efficiency of plants

Grain yield (43.63 q ha-1), stover yield (74.77 q ha-1) and to convert the fraction of photo-assimilation to grain yield.
biological yield (118.4 q ha-1) of maize were registered Obviously higher the harvest index is, greater will be the
significantly maximum from treatment T9 – 150% RDF + grain yield of crops. Significantly maximum harvest index
VAM + Vermicompost (Table-3). It is attributed due to the (36.9%) was recorded with the application of treatment T9 –
inoculation of VAM along with vermicompost were 150% RDF + VAM + Vermicompost (Table-3). The
significantly increased plant height, number of leaves, fresh increased harvest index might be due to efficient portioning of
and dry weight, increased number of grains cob-1, 100 seed assimilates towards the economic portion. Integrated use of
weight over the rest treatments ultimately grain yield, stover VAM and vermicompost with increasing levels of RDF,
yield and biological yields were increased. This increase in increase the physiological efficiency of maize to convert
growth, yield attributes and yield might be due to the assimilates to grain yield that is the reason of highest harvest
combined action of VAM and vermicompost. Vermicompost index. The results are in conformity with those already
is a rich source of different essential nutrients which improve reported by [19, 20].
overall soil condition and promote growth and yield of plant.
Same findings also reported by [13, 15, 17, 18, 19].

Table 3: Yield of maize as influenced by different levels of NPK and bio-fertilizers

Grain yield (q ha-1) of Stover yield (q ha-1) Biological yield (q ha-1) of Harvest index (%)
Treatments
maize of maize maize of maize
T1 – 50% RDF (Control) 15.10 37.33 52.43 28.8
T2 – 50% RDF + VAM 17.00 38.33 55.33 30.7
T3 – 50% RDF + VAM + Vermicompost 20.07 42.60 62.67 32.0
T4 – 100% RDF 20.57 41.50 62.07 32.2
T5 – 100% RDF + VAM 23.03 43.17 66.23 34.9
T6 – 100% RDF + VAM + Vermicompost 28.03 49.90 77.93 36.0
T7 – 150% RDF 30.10 52.00 82.10 36.7
T8 – 150% RDF + VAM 33.23 57.00 90.23 36.8
T9 – 150% RDF + VAM + Vermicompost 43.63 74.77 118.40 36.9
SE(m)± 1.05 1.66 1.43 1.55
C.D. at 5% 3.16 4.96 4.27 4.66

Conclusion 2. Dutt S. A Handbook of Agriculture. ABD Publishers,

On the basis of above findings, it may be concluded that the India 2005, 116-118.
T9 - (150% RDF + VAM + Vermicompost) was found most 3. Khoshgoftarmanesh AH, Eshghizadeh HR. Yield
appropriate nutrient combination for the maize crop, this Response of Corn to Single and Combined Application of
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VAM and vermicompost should be considered as the nutrition 4. Amanullah. Partitioning of dry matter and grain yield
of maize for obtaining maximum yield. potential in maize (Zea mays L.) as influenced by plant
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