Fertilizer band placement-cum-earthing machine effects on growth, productivity and profitability of maize (Zea mays) under varying nitrogen levels

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy season (rabi) of 2011–12 and 2012–13 at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), Pantnagar, to study the effect of mechanized earthing, conventional earthing and nitrogen dose on productivity and profitability of maize (Zea mays L). The experiment included 4 earthing treatments in main plots, viz. no earthing, manual earthing, inter-cultivation by cultivator and earthing by Pant fertilizer band placement-cum-earthing machine) and 4 levels of nitrogen, i.e. 90, 120, 150 and 180 kg/ha as subplots was arranged in splitplot design. The Pant fertilizer band placement cum earthing machine was designed and developed at the Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, College of Technology, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. The machine was designed to perform continuous placement of fertilizer along the row crop, earthing-up and weed cutting operation simultaneously. Significantly higher productivity and monetary advantage was noted under earthing by Pant fertilizer band placement-cum-earthing machine. The average increase in grain yield in mechanized earthing over no-earthing, manual earthing and inter-cultivation by cultivator was 24.5, 6.5 and 14.5%, respectively. The highest monetary advantage of 46.3 thousands/ha and benefit: cost ratio of 1.22 was obtained in mechanized earthing. Application of nitrogen @ 150 kg/ha was helpful in improving grain yield by 26.2% and net returns by 63.5% over 90 kg/ha.