Effect of site-specific nutrient management in conservation agriculture-based maize in north-western India

An experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) season of 2018 and 2019 at New Delhi, to study the effect of tillage, residue and nutrient-management options on yield, profitability and energy budgeting of maize (Zea mays L.). Growing maize under permanent raised bed (PRB) showed significantly (P<0.05) higher grain yield (5.98 and 6.01 t/ha), protein content (9.97 and 10.04%), protein yield (596.8 and 603.8 kg/ha), production efficiency (PE) (55.4 and 55.6 kg/ha/day) and monetary efficiency (ME) (548.7 and 587.5 /ha/day) over conventional till (CT) plot. Increment ingrain yield (7.35 and 7.14%), protein content (1.60 and 1.50%), protein yield (8.68 and 8.50), PE (4 and 3.8 kg/ha/day) and ME (59.0 and 62.2 /ha/day) were noticed under residue retained plot over no-residue plot during 2018 and 2019 respectively. Application of nutrient as per nutrient expert + GreenSeeker (NE + GS) resulted in higher grain yield (5.79 and 5.82 t/ha), protein content (9.97 and 10.03%), protein yield (578.0 and 584.8 kg/ha), PE (53.6 and 53.9 kg/ha/day) and ME (523.6 and 561.5 /ha/day) over NE alone and soil test-based recommendation (STB) options during 2018 and 2019 respectively. Maximum N content in grain and stover was recorded with PRB with residue retention along with nutrient application as NE and GS-based recommendation, while P and K contents in grain and stover did not differ significantly among the treatment combination during 2018 and 2019 respectively. Overall results revealed that growing maize on permanent raised bed along with 3 t/ha residue retention on surface and precision nutrient prescription using nutrient expert® and green seeker optical sensor is a promising option for sustainable higher productivity, quality and profitability of maize in intensively cultivated area of Indo-Gangatic Plains.