Precision Nutrient Management (PNM) Studies in Maize (Zea mays L.) Under Irrigated Situation

The experiment was conducted during kharif 2013 in vertisols at Agricultural Research Station, Mudhol, Karnataka to study growth, yield attributes and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) as influenced by precision nutrient management through target yield approach. The results of the experiment revealed that application of nutrients to achieve target yield of 140 q ha⁻¹ (380.8: 133.9: 88.2 kg N, P₂O₅, K₂O ha⁻¹) recorded significantly higher growth parameters namely LAI, total dry matter at different growthstages of crop. Significantly higher grain yield (128.26 q ha⁻¹), stover yield (150.65 q ha⁻¹) and harvest index (46.26 per cent) was recorded by target yield level of 140 q ha⁻¹. The increase in grain and stover yield by target yield level of 140 q ha⁻¹ could be the maximum cob length (20.1 cm), cob girth (17.4 cm), number of kernel rows per cob (14.1), number of kernels per rows (36.9), number of kernels per cob (520.6), test weight (36.1 g) and kernel weight per cob (188 g) as compared to absolute control.