~ 2454 ~ International Journal of Chemical Studies 2020; 8(1): 2454-2458 P-ISSN: 2349–8528 E-ISSN: 2321–4902 IJCS 2020; 8(1): 2454-2458 © 2020 IJCS Received: 19-11-2019 Accepted: 21-12-2019 Prayasi Nayak Department of Agronomy, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati Acharya N.G Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India A Pratap Kumar Reddy Department of Agronomy, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati Acharya N.G Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India N Sunitha Department of Agronomy, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati Acharya N.G Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India KV Naga Madhuri Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Tirupati Acharya N.G Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India Corresponding Author: Prayasi Nayak Department of Agronomy, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati Acharya N.G Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India Performance of maize ( Zea mays L . ) under efficient nutrient management practices for sustainable crop productivity Prayasi Nayak, A Pratap Kumar Reddy, N Sunitha and KV Naga Madhuri DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/chemi.2020.v8.i1ak.8635 Abstract A field experiment was conducted to optimise the organic, inorganic and biofertiliser needs for sustained productivity of maize (Zea mays L.). Seven treatments comprising all possible combinations of chemical fertilizer, organic manure (vermicompost, FYM) with and without biofertilizer (Azospirillum and PSB) were laid out in randomized block design with three replications. Different nutrient management practices (organic, inorganic and combined sources of nutrients) significantly influenced the yield attributes, yield and economics of maize crop. Application of 100 % RDF (T1:180-60-50 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha -1 ) resulted in significantly higher cob length, girth (17.7 cm, 16.8 cm), cob weight (225 g), no. of kernel rows cob -1 (12.9), no. of kernels row -1 (24.2), kernel weight cob -1 (5207 kg ha -1 ), kernel yield (5207 kg ha -1 ) and stover yield (6751 kg ha -1 ) which was significantly superior over the rest of the nutrient management practices and it was followed by 50% RDF + Vermicompost @ 1t ha -1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha -1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha -1 (T7) and it has given a remarkable yield attributes, kernel (4683 kg ha -1 ) and stover yield (6394 kg ha -1 ) which is in turn in parity with 50% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha -1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha -1 +PSB @ 5 kg ha -1 (T6) and significantly superior to rest of the treatments. The highest net returns (₹ 59920 ha -1 ) and benefit - cost ratio (2.97) were recorded under 100% RDF (T1) followed by application of FYM @ 10 t ha -1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha -1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha -1 (T6) which has registered a B:C ratio of 2.81 which might be due to comparatively better increase in yield with lesser cost over other treatments. Integration of biofertilizer (T6 and T7) has triggered the nutrient uptake mechanism and shown a notable performance in improving yield structures, yield and economics. Long run adoption of combined use of fertilizers and organics expected to match and even excel the sole fertilizer based production strategy. Keywords: Organic, inorganic, biofertiliser, yield, yield attributes, economics Introduction Maize an important food and feed crop of the world and often referred to as “Queen of cereals, back bone of America, miracle crop, king of grain crops”. Refineries use maize crop for producing products as corn oil, gluten for animal feed, corn starch, syrup, dextrose (used mainly by pharmaceutical industry as the starting material for manufacturing vitamin C and penicillin), alcohol for beverages, ethanol, high fructose corn syrup (used mainly by soft drink industry), biodegradable chemicals and plastics, ready to eat snack food and breakfast cereals, corn meal, grits, flour and additives in paints and explosives. It is estimated that worldwide maize yields 4000 industrial products (Sprague et al., 1988) [12] . Maize is the third most important food crop after rice and wheat in India, mainly grown during kharif season which covers 85% of the total area. In India, it is cultivated on 9.43 million ha area, with production and productivity of 24.35 million tonnes and 2,583 kg/ha respectively (Director’s review, IIMR, 2014-15). It accounts for ~9 per cent of total food grain production in the country. India ranks 4 th in maize area in the world. Maize grain is mainly used for feed (63%), food (23%) and industrial purpose (13%) in the country. To meet the rising demand, a quantum jump in maize production is the need of the hour. In the previous decade, the maize area expanded by 1.8% and production increased by 4.9% showing productivity growth at 2.6% per annum in India (GoI, 2015).