Effect of balanced nutrition on nitrogen-use efficiency, N balance and productivity of maize (Zea mays) in Inceptisol and Alfisol of Tamil Nadu

A field experiment was conducted during July–October of 2006 and 2007 at Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Coimbatore, to study the effect of balanced fertilization on yield of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.), nitrogen-use efficiency and N balance in Mayamankuruchi and Madukkur soil series (Inceptisol and Alfisol) of Tamil Nadu. The experiments was conducted in randomized block design with 13 treatments comprising different levels of N, P and K with Zn as inorganic fertilizers. The treatments were replicated thrice. The range of partial factor productivity (PFP) was from 18.9–45.0 kg grain/kg nitrogen applied to hybrid maize in Mayamankuruchi soil series and 18.7–44.3 kg/kg (N) in Madukkur soil series. The agronomic efficiency varied from 4.9–24.2 and 5.2–24.3 kg grains/kg N in Mayamankuruchi and Madukkur soil series respectively. The highest values (86.3 and 94.9 kg/kg (N) of physiological efficiency were registered in the treatments omitting Zn in both series soil. The fraction of applied N that is absorbed by a crop is expressed as apparent N recovery. The mean recovery efficiency for applied N ranged from 29.5–85.6% and 28.6–81.3% for the two soils. The net positive nitrogen balance was found in Mayamankuruchi soil series and the negative nitrogen balance in Madukkur soil series.