Effect of row spacing with different levels of phosphorous and biofertilizer on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Crop Research Farm (CRF), SHUATS, Allahabad, during the kharif season of 2017 with 12 treatments replicated thrice in randomized block design, to determine the effect of row spacing with different levels of Phosphorous and biofertilizer on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.). This treatment consisted of two treatment of planting geometry 60 cm x 20 cm, 45 cm x 20 cm, three different levels of phosphorous 60 kg/ha, 80 kg/ha and 100 kg/ha. Seed was inoculated and uninoculated with PSB. The results revealed that spacing of 60 cm x 20 cm and 80 kg P ha-1 with phosphate solubilising bacteria was found to be the best treatment for obtaining higher grain yield (5.22 t ha-1), harvest index (43.13%), test weight (28.33 g) and other growth and yield attributes like higher net returns (Rs 40,303.50/-ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.18) was also observed. However, seed inoculation with PSB showed positive differences in effecting the grain yield.