Assessment of maize productivity and profitability under varying nitrogen rates and application times in Yamuna Ravines of Uttar Pradesh

Maize, recognized for its high genetic yield potential, plays a vital role in global agriculture due to its diverse applications. This study explores the impact of different nitrogen fertilizer rates and application timings on maize productivity and profitability in the Yamuna ravines of Uttar Pradesh. The experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2022, with three N doses (75%, 100% and 125% of recommended dose of nitrogen) and three application timings (two, three and four split doses). The results revealed that both cob and grain yield as well as net returns and B:C ratio increased with higher nitrogen rates, with the highest yield recorded at 125% RDN (187.5 kg/ha), though 100% RDN showed statistically similar outcomes. Among the timings of application, three-split doses (1/3 basal+1/3 at 25-35 DAS+ 1/3 at 45-55 DAS) produced the highest cob yield, grain yield, net returns and B:C ratio, however, it was at par with 2 split doses (½ basal + ½ at 25-35 DAS). The study highlights that optimizing nitrogen rates and application timings is crucial for improving maize productivity and profitability, with three-split applications proving to be the most efficient.