To assess the nutrient uptake by maize crop and residual soil fertility

Abstract

Application of Zn, B, S, Zn + B + S along with 100% NPK led to an increase in nutrient content in plant tissues and therefore higher uptake of N, P, K, S, Zn and B. Contents of N, P, K, Zn and B in grains ranged from 1.23 to 1.74, 0.19 to 0.37, 0.25 to 0.44, 0.18 to 0.36 %, 0.31 to 0.62 and 0.34 to 0.65 ppm, respectively, lowest being with no fertilizer and highest with 75% NPK + FYM @ 7.5 t + Zn + B + S. Respective ranges of uptake were 41.0-128.6 kg ha-1 (N), 8.5-32.0 kg ha-1 (P), 53.1-133.4 kg ha-1 (K), 12.2-45.1 kg ha-1 (S), 19.2-90.4 g ha-1 (Zn) and 22.3-90.4 g ha-1 (B). In general, grains accumulated more N and P than stover. A reverse pattern was observed in respect of K, S, Zn and B having been higher in stover. Wu et al. (2005) [5] were also of the similar opinion. Crop cultivation without fertilizer application resulted in negative nutrient balance in soil whereas application of nutrients had a favorable effect on nutrient replenishment. Crop grown with 75% NPK + FYM @ 7.5 t + Zn + B + S fetched highest gross ( 85225 ha-1) and net returns ( 55730 ha-1) with highest B:C ratio (2.89) followed by 100% NPK + Zn, 100% NPK + Azotobacter + PSB, 100% NPK + Azotobacter and 75% NPK + FYM @ 7.5 t. Jeet et al. (2012) [6] also obtained higher returns from maize with integrated and balanced nutrient management.