Assessing productivity and profitability of maize (Zea mays) under conservation tillage and nutrient management

The field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) season of 2017 at New Delhi, to study the effect of tillage and nutrient management on productivity and profitability of maize (Zea mays L.). The results showed that zero-tilled flat bed (ZTFB) × ‘nutrient expert’ (NE)-based fertilization had the tallest plant, higher leaf-area index and accumulated the highest dry-matter irrespective of crop growth stages. Further, ZTFB-planted maize had higher yield by ~2% and ~25% than permanent beds (PNB) and conventional tillage (CT), respectively. Similarly, NE resulted in the maximum grain yield, but at par to recommended fertilization (RFA); which was ~17% higher than half the recommended fertilizer application (RFA) ½ + residue retention (CR). The maximum gross and net returns were recorded in permanent beds × NE planted maize which was similar to ZTFB × NE plots. Overall, our results indicated that adoption of conservation tillage coupled with NE-based nutrient management improved the productivity and profitability of maize.