Yield and qualitative evaluation of fodder maize (Zea mays L.) under potassium and zinc based integrated nutrient management

Nutritional deficiency, including that potassium and zinc, is one of the critical factors that hinder the quality fodder production in India, which can only be solved with integrated nutrient management approach. This experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2019 to find out the effect of potassium, zinc, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and farmyard manure (FYM) application to the quality aspect of fodder maize. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with nine treatments with standard (100%) and reduced (75%) rate of the recommended dose of potassium (RDK) along with inclusion and exclusion of zinc foliar spray, PGPR and FYM. The experiment results revealed that application of 100 % RDK+PGPR+ YM (5 t ha⁻¹) + two-time spray of 0.5% Zn resulted in higher green fodder yield (t ha⁻¹), dry fodder yield (t ha⁻¹), dry matter and ash content, increased crude protein (CP) content and yield with a concomitant decrease in fibre fractions over other treatments and control. The conclusion from the experiment can be drawn that the combined application of potassium, zinc, PGPR and FYM can result in quality production of fodder maize.