Influence of need-based nutrient management on yield and nutrient use efficiency of Rabi maize (Zea mays L.) under sandy loam soils of Odisha, India

• Published in: Farming & Management Vol. 10; no. ISSUE 1 (JUNE) 2025
• Main Authors: SAIRAM, MASINA, MAITRA, SAGAR, RAY, SUMIT, MAITY, BISRUTI, PRADHAN, PUSPENDU
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 05.06.2025
• ISSN: 2455-4065; 2456-8724
• DOI: 10.31830/2456-8724.2025.FM-161

Maize (Zea mays L.), being a heavy nutrient feeder, improper application of nutrients may cause nutrient deficiency in maize, resulting in yield loss. Considering these, the present study was carried out during the Rabi seasons (November-March) of 2021-22 and 2022-23 at P. G. Research Farm of Centurion University of Technology and Management, Odisha, India. The study was designed by adopting a randomized block design with 13 treatments and they were replicated three times. The treatments were: T₁: recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) (120-60-60 kg/ha), T₂: 125% RDF, T₃: 75% RDF, T₄: 150% RDF, T₅: RDF + nano urea, T₆: 75% RDF + nano Urea, T₇: leaf colour chart (LCC) ≤ 4, T₈: LCC ≤ 5, T₉: chlorophyll content meter (CCM) at sufficiency index less than 90%, T₁₀: CCM sufficiency index less than 95%, T₁₁: Nutrient Expert (NE) targeted yield 7 t/ha, T₁₂: NE targeted yield 9 t/ha and T₁₃: absolute control. Results of the study revealed that the highest grain and biological yield was noted with the CCM-based sufficiency index less than 95%. The highest agronomic nitrogen use efficiency was recorded with CCM sufficiency index less than 90%, NE targeted yield 9 t/ha and 125% RDF. The highest agronomic phosphorus and potassium use efficiencies were observed with the CCM sufficiency index less than 95%, followed by NE targeted yield 9 t/ha and 125% RDF. The CCM sufficiency index less than 95% showed the highest physiological use efficiencies of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, with 150% RDF, 125% RDF and CCM sufficiency Index less than 90% remained close behind. Apparent recovery efficiency (ARE) and partial factor productivity (PFP) for all nutrients registered the highest value in the CCM sufficiency index less than 95%, followed by the CCM sufficiency index less than 90%, NE targeted yield 9 t/ha, 150% RDF and 125% RDF. Nutrient harvest index (NHI) for nitrogen and phosphorus exceeded that of potassium, with the highest NHI noted with the absolute control. Among nutrient-applied treatments, 75% RDF showed the highest NHI, followed by 125% RDF and 100% RDF.