Agro-economic evaluation of fertility sources for higher maize productivity under rainfed conditions
2012
Saleem, R. (National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad (Pakistan). Maize, Sorghum and Millet Programme) | Ahmed, Z.I. (Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture Univ., Rawalpindi (Pakistan). Dept. of Agronomy) | Yousaf, M. (National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad (Pakistan). Maize, Sorghum and Millet Programme) | Javed, H.I. (National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad (Pakistan). Maize, Sorghum and Millet Programme) | Shah, H. (National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad (Pakistan). Social Sciences Research Inst.)
A study was conducted under rainfed conditions at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan during the year 2007 and 2008. The objective was to evaluate the economic feasibility of maize with five fertility treatments viz. control (T1), inoculation of maize seed with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) + PK (80-60 kg/ha) (T2), 120-80-60 kg NPK/ha (T3), poultry manure @ 15 t/ha (T4) and half poultry manure (7.5 t/ha) + half PK (40-30 kg/ha) + inoculation with PGPR (T5). Statistical analysis revealed that maize plots treated with half poultry manure + half PK + PGPR (T5) gave 43 percent higher grain yield over control. Maximum water use efficiency (8.63 kg/ha/mm) was recorded in same treatment while minimum water use efficiency (5.31 kg/ha/mm) was recorded in control treatment. According to economic analysis, higher net benefit (Rs. 32362/ha) was also obtained from T5 with higher marginal rate of return (547.86 %) and residual value (21972.7) as the farmers are mostly interested economically in attaining with higher residual value. The results indicated that combined use of organic, bio-fertilizers and chemical fertilizers proved to be more productive, sustainable and remunerative and can be recommended for maize growers to improve maize productivity and elevate income of farmer's investment.
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