Effect of Tillage, Crop Residue Management and Nutrient Levels on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.)

A field study was conducted during rabi season of 2022 at Maize Research Centre, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University, Agricultural Research Institute, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana. The experiment comprised of 12 treatment combinations laid out in a split–plot design with three replications. The main–plot treatments included four different tillage practices:M1-Conventional tillage (Plough + Cultivator + Rotovator), M2-Residue incorporation (After 10 days of spreading the haulms, only rotovator was run), M3- Residue incorporation (After spreading the haulms, microbial consortium was sprayed and after 10 days only rotovator was run) and M4- Zero-tillage (only microbial consortium was sprayed on the haulms). Sub–plot treatments included three nutrient levels: N1- 100% RDF (240-80-80 N-P2O5-K2O kg ha-1), N2: 100% RDN & P and 50% RDK (240-80-40 N-P2O5-K2O kg ha-1), and N3: 87.5% of RDN, 75% RDP and 75% RDK (210-60-60 N-P2O5-K2O kg ha-1). Results revealed that, among the tillage practices, residue incorporation (M3) had recorded significantly higher growth attributes like plant height, leaf area, dry matter production and chlorophyll content (SPAD) at 30, 60 DAS and at harvest stages and yield of maize and it was on par with zero-tillage (M4) whereas all the parameters were significantly lower in conventional tillage (M1). Among the different nutrient levels, N1(100% RDF) had shown significantly superior performance in terms of growth attributes and yield of maize and it was on par with N2 (100% RDN & P and 50% RDK) whereas N3(87.5% of RDN, 75% RDP and 75% RDK) recorded significantly lower growth attributes and yield of maize .The interaction effect due to tillage and nutrient levels on plant height, leaf area, dry matter production, chlorophyll content (SPAD) at 30, 60 DAS and at harvest and yield was non- significant.