Maize sowing with multi crop planter under rain fed conditions in Rajouri District of J & K proved beneficial

An experiment was carried out at farmer’s field in intermediate zone of Rajouri district in Jammu & Kashmir to assess the effect of sowing system on yield and cost of practice of maize crop. The study consisted of treatment T1: broadcasting of maize seed after three times tractor drawn cultivator, T2: broadcasting of maize seed after one time tractor operated rotavator and one time cultivator and T3: Tractor drawn multi crop planter after one time tractor operated rotavator for sowing of maize crop at farmers’ field. The multi crop planter was used for line sowing of seed and fertilizer at proper depth to achieve increased productivity. The use of precise planter for seeds could save the seed in the require 15 to 20 per cent. Multi crop planter helped in efficient conduct of intercultural operation to reduce the weeds and use of other inputs. It was found that the yield of maize under treatments T₁, T₂ and T₃ was 21.0q/ha, 23.0q/ha and 31.0q/ha, respectively where as net returns were Rs 18,400/ha, Rs 22,100/ha and Rs 31,200/ha, respectively. The benefit cost ratio in treatments T₁, T₂ and T₃ was 1.38, 1.86 and 1.98, respectively. Increase in yield by treatment T₃ was 42.86 per cent over treatment T₁. The results of agronomic observations revealed that plant height and depth of root were superior in treatment T₃ where as treatment T₁ was found to be less effective.