IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS) e-ISSN: 2319-2380, p-ISSN: 2319-2372.Volume 7, Issue 2 Ver. I (Mar-Apr. 2014), PP 39-42 www.iosrjournals.org www.iosrjournals.org 39 | Page Efficiency of different Nitrogen Source, doses and Split application on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh *Arun Joshi, **J. K. Gupta,*** S. K. Choudhary, ****D. K. Paliwal *Head, NLRI,Ratlam, MP,**Associate Professor, Ag. Economics,M.G.C.G.V.V.Chitrakoot, Satna, MP ***Professor,Agronomy,College of Agriculture, Indore,MP, S.M.S.Agronomy, KVK,Indore, MP,India Abstract: The present investigation entitled “Efficiency of different Nitrogen Source, doses and Split application on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh” was conducted at Research Farm, National Livelihood Resource Institute, Ratlam (M. P.) during kharif season in 2009 and 2010. The experiment was aimed to find out best source, optimum level and time of nitrogen application. On the basis of the two years experimentation, it can be concluded that for achieving the higher growth and yields with better monetary returns from maize variety JM-216 in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, nitrogen may be applied through Neem coated urea @ 100 kg/ha in 3 splits doses i.e. basal, 25 and 45 DAS. This application was found more productive and profitable. Key Words- Doses, Prilled Urea, Granuller Urea,, Neem Coated Urea, Split Application, I. Introduction Maize is a crop par excellence for food, feed and industrial utilization and grown in 7.8 M ha land with 14.05 M tones of production and 1885 kg/ha productivity in India under irrigated to Semi-arid conditions. It provides the nutritional security due to its high nutritive values. The low productivity of maize in India is associated with a wide range of production constraints, among them low nitrogen use efficiency is a major constraint. While cultivating the maize crop, the farmers come across various problems like less availability or non availability of the seed, improper irrigation facilities, use of fertilizers, availability of farm yard manure, etc. Among these factors, the imbalanced use of fertilizers especially nitrogen is a major factor. Nitrogen (N) is often the most limiting factor in crop production. Hence, application of fertilizer nitrogen results in higher biomass yields and protein yield and concentration in plant tissue is commonly increased. Nitrogen often affects amino acid composition of protein and in turn its nutritional quality. In maize, abundant supply of nitrogen decreases the relative proportion of lysine and threonine, thus, reducing the biological value of the protein. Increasing nitrogen supply generally improves kernel integrity and strength, resulting in better milling properties of the grain (Blumenthal et al., 2008). Nitrogen is in high demand throughout the growing season. In the first 25 days of a maize plants growth, it will absorb 8% of its total Nitrogen. This is critical because the corn plant determines the number of kernel rows in the first 25 days of growth. The number of kernel rows can dramatically impact yield, so placement in the root zone is extremely important. Maize is a highly exhaustive crop and it requires high nutrient application particularly nitrogen. Increasing N –fertilizer use efficiency and reducing the leaching losses of nitrogenous fertilizers are some of the options to lower the doses of nitrogen in maize. Application of nitrogenous fertilizers as top dressings at various crop stages, modifying the physical properties of fertilizer granules are possible ways to meet out the options besides lowering the cost of production. Keeping these facts in view, the experiment was conducted in kharif seasons of 2009 and 2010 in Malwa plateau agro-climatic zone of Madhya Pradesh. Objective- To find out the efficiency of different Nitrogen Source, doses and Split application on growth and yield of maize. II. Material And Methods The experiment was conducted during Kharif season of 2009-10 and 2010-11 at Research Farm, National Livelihood Resource Institute, Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh). The topography of field was uniform and gentle slope with adequate drainage. It has subtropical climate with a temperature range of 25.5 o C to 38.2 o C and 10.7 o C to 26.5 o C in summer and winter season respectively. This region belongs to semi arid condition with an average annual rainfall of 960 mm. However the rainfall observed during crop periods was 874.4 and 510 mm in 2009-10 and 2010-11, respectively. The soil of the field was a typical medium black clayey soil. The soil was low in organic carbon and available nitrogen (184.5 kg/ha), medium in available phosphorus (10.10 kg/ha) and medium in available potassium (338.6 kg/ha) with a pH of 7.76 and EC of 0.26 dSm -1