Influence of Fertilizer Levels and Growth Regulating Substances on Growth, Nutrient Use Efficiency and Yield of Hybrid Maize

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during kharif 2008 to study the influence of fertilizer levels and foliar spray of plant growth substances on growth, nutrient use efficiency and yield of hybrid maize under irrigated condition. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design replicated thrice. Three fertilizer levels viz., 150:75:75, 200:100:100 and 250:125:125 NPK kg ha-1 constituted the main plot treatments. Foliar spray of growth substances viz., control (no spray), salicylic acid 100 ppm, boric acid 0.3%, PGR consortia 1.5%, TNAU Panchagavya 3% and Pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophic bacteria (PPFM) 106 dilution were assigned to sub plot. The results of the experiment revealed that among the fertilizer levels, 250:125:125 NPK kg ha-1 recorded taller plants, higher LAI, DMP, nutrient uptake and yield. However, the yield was comparable with 200:100:100 NPK kg ha-1. Regarding the growth substances, PGR consortia 1.5% recorded better growth parameters, higher nutrient uptake and yield than the other growth substances. The highest agronomic efficiency (AE) and apparent recovery (AR) for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were recorded under the treatment combination 200:100:100 NPK kg ha-1 along with the foliar spray of PGR consortia @ 1.5%.