Effect of phytase and phosphorus levels on growth contributing characters, yield and nutrient uptake by fodder maize in an Inceptisol

Abstract

The pot culture experiment was conducted to study ‘Effect of phytase and phosphorus levels on soil growth contributing characters, yield and nutrient uptake by fodder maize in an Inceptisol’ during kharif season, 2016-17 at Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri. The experiment was laid out in factorial completely randomized design with two replications and seventeen treatments, consisting combination of phytase @ 1200, 2400, 3600 and 4800 IU and phosphorus @ 0, 25, 50 and 75 kg P2O5 ha-1 levels with absolute control. The application of phytase @ 3600 IU and 75 kg P2O5 ha-1 significantly increased the plant height, number of leaves, root cation exchange and root biomass at harvest of fodder maize. The green fodder yield (140.44 and 164.45 g plant-1) and dry matter yield (13.38 and 15.66 g plant-1) was increased significantly by the individual application of phytase @ 3600 IU and 75 kg P2O5 ha-1 at the harvest of fodder maize. The higher application of phytase and phosphorus was significantly increased the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium at harvest of the fodder maize. In general, the application of phytase @ 3600 IU and 75 kg P2O5 ha-1 significantly increasing plant growth contributing characters, root cation exchange capacity and root biomass of green fodder maize. This study suggests that application of phytase and phosphorus increasing the yield as well as nutrient uptake by the plants.