Impact of Seed Priming and Fertilizer Levels on Quality, Yield and Economics of Rabi Maize

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted during the rabi season of 2019-20 at College of Agriculture, NAU, Navsari to study the “Effect of seed priming and fertilizer levels on rabi maize under south Gujarat condition”. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with factorial concept (FRBD) with ten treatment combinations consisting of two factors which consists seed priming, Control (No priming), Seed priming with water for 12 hrs., Seed priming with 0.5% KCl for 12 hrs., Seed priming with 0.5% KMnO4 for 12 hrs., Seed priming with 0.5% KH2PO4 for 12 hrs and fertilizer levels, 75% RDF (112.5+45+00, N: P2O5: K2O kg/ha) and 100 RDF (150+60+00, N: P2O5: K2O kg/ha). Treatments are replicated three times. The result indicated Seed priming with 0.5% KH2PO4 for 12 hrs recorded significantly higher grain yield (46.75 q/ha), straw yield (85.43 q/ha), harvest index (35.23%), protein yield (567.20 kg/ha), net return (₹ 74618/ha) and B:C ratio (2.24) as compared to other treatments. In case of fertilizer levels recorded significantly higher grain yield (46.91 q/ha), straw yield (86.94 q/ha), harvest index (34.99%), protein content (12.41 %), protein yield (584.23 kg/ha), net return (₹74742/ha) and B:C ratio (2.33) in treatment of 100% RDF (150+60+00, N: P2O5: K2O kg/ha). Treatment combination S5F2 (KH2PO4 at 0.5 % for 12 hrs. with 100% RDF i.e., 150+60+00, N: P2O5: K2O kg/ha) recorded significantly higher grain yield (52.80q/ha), straw yield (91.14 q/ha), harvest index (36.68%), Protein yield (686.56 kg/ha) net return (₹86657/ha) and B:C ratio (2.56) as compared to other treatments. Thus a combination of Seed priming 0.5% KH2PO4 for 12 hrs with 100% RDF (150+60+00, N: P2O5: K2O kg/ha) helps in increasing grain yield, straw yield, harvest index, protein yield, net return and B:C ratio of rabi maize without negative influence on plant and the environment.