Long term effect of nutrient management practices on performance of quality protein maize under maize (Zea mays)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping sequence

An investigation was carried out during (2009–11) at Ranchi, Jharkhand, in the field under long-term experiment since 1983, to evaluate the performance of ‘HQPM 1’ maize (Zea mays L.) as affected by continuous application of different nutrient-management practices under maize (Zea mays L.)-wheat [Ttriticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.] cropping sequence. Combined application of organic sources, namely farmyard manure (FYM), cut paddy straw and green karanj [Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre] leaves along with chemical fertilizers improved maize grain yield, yield-attributing characters, viz. cobs/plant, length of cob, girth of cob, grain rows/cob, grains/row, grains/cob and 1, 000-grain weight, and growth parameters, viz. plant height, leaf area index (LAI), dry matter production (DMP), net assimilation rate (NAR) and crop growth rate (CGR). Highest LAI (3.6), DMP (1190.6 g/m²), NAR (6.4 g/m²/day), CGR (12.2 g/m²/day), maize grain yield (4.37 t/ha), MEY (9.69 t/ha), production efficiency (40.4 kg/ha/day), protein content (9.56%) and benefit: cost ratio (0.87) was observed for the treatment receiving integrated nutrient-management practices through FYM. The results revealed that substitution of N through FYM up to 50% along with 50% RDF for maize followed by 100% RDF for wheat was found to be superior for increasing growth and yield parameters of QPM, protein content, higher income and enhances soil fertility under maize-wheat cropping sequence in upland soils of Jharkhand.