Profiling nitrogen use efficiency in QPM, hybrid and composite maize cultivars

Abstract

A two year investigation during rabi seasons between 2017-2019 at Mondouri farm, BCKV, West Bengal, was conducted in split plot design, replicated thrice. Main plot treatments comprised maize cultivars - i) V1: HQPM4 (QPM), ii) V2: Shresta (Single cross hybrid) and (iii) V3: NAC 6004 (Composite); in the sub plot there was 6 nutrient schedules viz- i) T1: control, ii) T2: RDF, iii) T3: RDN75 + Vermicompost @ 2 t/ha, iv) T4: T3+ Azotobacter @ 2kg/ha, v) T5: T4+ Zn, vi) T6: RDN50 + Vermicompost @ 2 t/ha + Azotobacter @ 2kg/ha + Zn. NUE trends of PFP, AUE and PE for both years followed in ARE values of grain and total biomass. Addition of vermicompost in T3 resulted in improved NUE over RDF in second year. T5 had highest yield and NUE indices. T6 bettered its own NUE indices over the first year which underpins compounding effects in organic nutrients.