Influence of irrigation and nitrogen levels on growth, yield attributes and yield of maize (Zea mays)

A field experiment was conducted at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2013 and 2014, to investigate the effect of nitrogen and water-management practices on potential yield of maize. The crop was subjected to 2 irrigation levels (cumulative pan evaporation: 0.80 and 0.50) and 5 staggered nitrogen levels (0, 50, 75, 100 and 125% of recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN). The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with 10 treatments and replicated thrice. Irrigation at IW: CPE ratio of 0.80 along with 250 kg N/ha (100% RDN) favourably increased the higher growth parameters, nutrient uptake, yield attributes and higher grain yield (7.31 t/ha) of maize. The crop did not respond significantly to further increase in nitrogen level up to 125% RDN (312 kg N/ha) over the 100% of recommended dose of nitrogen (250 kg N/ha). Better correlation coefficient of r² = > 0.95 was obtained with significant at P = 0.01 levels between growth parameters and yield attributes of maize. The same set of treatment resulted in higher net returns (64.3 × 10³/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.89) than others.