Effect of Mulching and Agronomic Zinc Fortification on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) under Rainfed Conditions in Central Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

This manuscript offers valuable insights into how mulching and agronomic zinc fortification can enhance maize growth and yield under rainfed conditions by improving soil moisture conservation and nutrient availability. The study findings will provide practical recommendations for optimizing maize production through effective moisture and micronutrient management in the agro-climatic conditions of Central Uttar Pradesh. Maize is a key staple and industrial crop in India, but its productivity is often restricted by micronutrient deficiencies particularly zinc and moisture stress under rainfed farming. Techniques like mulching and agronomic zinc fortification help conserve soil moisture and boost nutrient availability, thereby enhancing crop growth and resilience. The field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2023 and 2024 at Students’ Instructional Farm, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur Uttar Pradesh, India, to evaluate the influence of mulching practices and agronomic zinc fortification on the growth behavior and yield of Kharif maize (Zea mays L.) under the agro-climatic conditions of Central Uttar Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in a Split Plot Design with 3 treatments of mulching practices in main plots and 7 treatments of agronomic zinc fortification assigned to the sub-plots, making a total of 21 treatment combinations, each replicated three times. The results showed that Straw Mulch (M2) and Zinc treatment (Z5) at 45 days after sowing (DAS) demonstrated superior performance, producing the tallest plant, highest dry matter accumulation, maximum leaf area index and grain yield while plant population remain non significant across the all treatments. On the basis of two years finding, it is recommended that (M2) straw mulch and application of (Z5) RDF + Seed soaking with Zn + soil application of ZnSO₄•7H₂O  @ 25 kg ha⁻¹as basal + foliar spray of ZnSO₄•7H₂O  (0.5 %) at 45 days after sowing (DAS) is effective for higher yield and profit in Kharif maize under rainfed condition of central Uttar Pradesh. The interaction effect (A×B) between mulching and zinc fortification was found to be non-significant in both years and pooled data.