Effect of Straw Mulching and Nitrogen Doses on Nutrient Status, Yield and Economics of Rabi Maize

At experimental farm of M. S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha, India, an experiment was conducted to know the effect of nitrogen doses and mulching on nutrient status, yield and economics of maize during the rabi season of 2021-22. The hybrid maize seed (Hybrid variety 4226) was sown in a spilt plot design with three levels of mulching in main plot and four doses of nitrogen in sub-plot. The grain yield, nutrient composition of maize seeds and stover, N, P, K status of pre-harvest soil were increased significantly in combination of nitrogen and mulching. Application of straw mulch significantly increased the N content of grain and stover as well as the N uptake by grain and stover as compared to no mulch treatment. It also influenced the protein content of seeds. Application of higher dose of N significantly increased the N content of grain and stover as well as the N uptake by grain and stover over the control and also influenced the NPK status of soil and protein content of the seeds. Maximum values of grain and stover yield (7.26 and 9.21t ha-1 respectively) were recorded from 5 t ha-1mulchand 150% RDN (N:P2O5:K2O = 120:60:60) plot. Whereas this interaction effect (5 t ha-1 and 150% RDN) significantly increased the N content of seeds (1.40 %), stover (0.47 %), and protein content of seeds (8.76 %). After decomposition of straw mulch in soil with additional application of nitrogen increased the available N (195.43 kg ha-1) over low level of nitrogen dose with no mulching. The combined application of mulching @ 5 t ha-1 with 150% RDN resulted highest net return (₹76,365/- ha-1) with maximum B:C ratio (1.29).