Production economics of rabi maize (Zea mays. L.) under different weed management practices and residual soil fertility conditions

A field experiment was conducted at Central Research Station of Agronomy department of the College of Agriculture, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, during two consecutive kharif and rabi seasons of 2017–18 and 2018–19. Maize crop was taken as rabi crop after the kharif rice to study the influence of residual nutrient provided to rice and direct effect of different herbicidal treatments on its growth, yield attributes, yield and economics. Performance of maize was studied under split plot design. Among the nutrient management practices, 50 per cent soil test based nitrogen + 50% vermicompost (50% STBN + 50% VC) recorded the highest kernel yield of 6.36 t ha^-1 and among the weed management practices, combined application of topramezone @ 25g a.i. + atrazine @ 250g a.i. ha^-1 as tank mix at 15 DAS resulted the maximum kernel yield of 7.18 t ha^-1. Nutrient and weed management practices were found to have interacting effect on kernel yield as well as on the economics of maize. Treatment combination, comprising 50 per cent STBN + 50 per cent VC in rice with topramezone @ 25g a.i + atrazine @ 250g a.i ha^-1 as tank mix application in maize at 15 DAS recorded the highest kernel yield of 7.59t ha^-1. Maximum gross return (Rs.103318 ha^-1), net return (Rs.54406 ha^-1) and BC ratio (2.09) were recorded in treatment comprising 50 per cent STBN + 50 per cent VC, among the nutrient management practices. Among the weed management practices, topramezone @ 25g a.i. + atrazine @ 250g a.i. ha^-1 as tank mix recorded the best gross return and net profit of Rs.116378 ha^-1 and Rs.66371 ha^-1, respectively with a BC ratio of 2.32.