Efficient resource conservation technology and foliar fertilization effect on growth, yield attributes and yields of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.)

Soil moisture is one of the important factors that manipulates the growth and yield of the maize crop. It will help to supply soil nutrients to the plant to enhance the growth and yield of the crop. Due to the lack of moisture in the soil, foliar nutrition is very much affected and thus it reflects on the growth and yield of the crop. The field experiment was conducted during 2020 – 21 at Annamalai University Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, Tamilnadu, India to maximize the productivity and profitability of maize by adopting various soil moisture conservation techniques and foliar fertilization. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with three replications. The experiment consists of two factors. In factor I, soil moisture conservation techniques were adopted viz., M1 – Control, M2 - Sugarcane trash, M3 - Water hyacinth and M4 – Hydrogel. In factor II, foliar nutrient management practice was accommodated such as F1 - control (without nutrient), F2 - foliar spray of 1% 19:19:19, F3 - 1% DAP + 1% MOP, F4 - 1% PPFM, F5 - 1% 19:19:19 + 1% PPFM and F6 - 1% DAP + 1% MOP + 1% PPFM. Foliar nutrients were applied at both Knee high and tasseling stages. Among the soil moisture conservation techniques, the results indicated that mulching with Water hyacinth has registered higher growth parameters, yield parameters and yield than other techniques. While different foliar nutrients, the foliar application of 1% DAP + 1% MOP + 1% PPFM (F6 ) have shown higher growth, yield parameters and yield than other treatments. With respect to integration of soil moisture conservation techniques and foliar nutrients, mulching with Water hyacinth andfoliar application of 1% DAP + 1% MOP + 1% PPFM (M3 F6 ) recorded higher growth, yield parameters and yield than the rest of the treatment combinations.