Effect of different organic sources on growth, yield and quality of rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) + guava (Psidium guajava L.) based agri-horti system

Abstract

All the experimental observations were made on the “Effect of different organic sources on growth; yield and quality of rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) + Guava (Psidium guajava L.) based agri-horti system” at Agronomy Research Farm of Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, Banaras Hindu University, Barkachha Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh (India) during kharif season of the agriculture year 2015-16. The site of experimental field is situated at 25o 10’ North latitude, 82o37’ East longitudes, 427 metres above mean sea level in the semi-arid eastern plain zone. The field experiment was conducted under nine years old guava based agri-horti system with split plot design having four levels of row spacing (60 cm and plant to plant 20 cm) and four level of organic source (RDN as FYM, RDN as vermicompost, RDN as FYM + vermicompost and RDN through inorganic sources). The investigation was replicated thrice. Under the various observation the field experiment taken into consideration as the height, girth and canopy of the fruit tree in nine years old guava which were up to (4.07 m and 5.41 m), respectively. T3 -50% of RDN as FYM+50% VC recorded significantly higher plant height (169.49 cm) over all other treatments. However, lower plant height (154.90 cm) was recorded with control treatment (T4 - 100% of RDN through inorganic sources) got significantly, more number of leave plant-1 (13.05) over the RDN as vermicompost and through inorganic source at 120 DAS but at par with RDN as vermicompost (12.47) and non significantly higher dry matter accumulation plant-1 (169.15g) T3 50% of RDN as FYM+50% VC at harvest stage. The maximum chlorophyll content, leaf area index maize was observed under T3 50% of RDN as FYM+50% VC and lowest (T4 - 100% of RDN through inorganic sources).