Winter maize as affected by preceding rainy-season crops, farmyard manure and nitrogen levels

A field experiment was carried out during 2005–06 and 2006–07 at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, to study the effect of preceding rainy-season (kharif) crops, viz. soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], maize (Zea mays L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.), farmyard manure 0 and 20 t/ha and nitrogen 0, 100, 140, 180 and 220 kg/ha on winter maize. Winter maize grown after soybean recorded significantly higher growth parameters, yield attributes and yield than after maize and rice. Application of farmyard manure (FYM) significantly increased the yield. The increase in grain yield with 20 t/ha FYM application was 7.8% over no FYM application. Maximum grain yield was obtained with 220 kg N/ha, being 60% higher than the control. Higher benefit: cost ratio was obtained with maize–winter maize followed by soybean–winter maize and the lowest with rice–winter maize cropping system. The benefit: cost ratio increased with increasing level of nitrogen and the minimum benefit: cost was obtained with the control (no nitrogen) and maximum with 180 and 220 kg N/ha.