INM in Maize

Among all the cereals maize (Zea mays L.) ranks third after wheat and rice in production and it is consumed as a staple food in several countries of tropics and subtropics. Corn is used as a staple food for humans and as a quality fodder. It serves as a basic raw ingredient for industrial products like starch, food sweeteners, oil, pharmaceutical, protein, alcoholic beverages, cosmetic, gum, textile, film package, paper industries etc.

Maize is considered as “queen of cereals”. It being a C4 plant can effectively utilize CO₂ even at high intensity.  Maize is an exhaustive crop and needs balanced supply of macro and micro-nutrients.

What is INM

Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) is the process to maintain the soil fertility and plant nutrient supply at an optimum level through optimization by the benefits of all possible sources of nutrients like inorganic, organic, biofertilizers and through green manure.

Benefits:

1. Maintains the balance between crop requirement and the nutrients from native and applied sources.
2. Enhances soil integrity and the physico-chemical nature by addition of ecofriendly fertilizers.
3. Reduces the carbon foot print and emission of greenhouse gases.
4. Improves the productivity by enhancing the availability of applied as well as native nutrients.

Components:

1. Inorganic fertilizers (Simple, Complex fertilizers etc.)
2. Organic fertilizers (FYM, Vermicomost)
3. Biofertilizers (VAM, AM, AZOTOBACTER)
4. Green manure (Red gram, Dolichos bean)

INM in Maize

Recommended nutrients

Maize is a very exhaustive crop and demands relatively high amount of fertilizers. It responds well to applied nutrients either through organic or inorganic sources.

The rate of nutrient application depends mainly on soil nutrient status /balance and cropping system. For obtaining desirable yields, the doses of applied nutrients should be matched with the soil supplying capacity and plant demand (Site-specific nutrient management approach) by keeping in view the preceding crop (cropping system).

For higher economic yield of maize, application of 10 t FYM per ha, 10-15 days prior to sowing supplemented with 150-180 kg N, 70-80 kg P₂O₅, 70-80 kg K₂O and 25 kg ZnSO₄ per ha is recommended.

Seed treatment with 600 g of Azospirillum help in the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen in the soil and provide nourishment to the growing plants.

Neem oil coated urea (NOCU) in 700 ppm concentration is recommended for higher yield, returns and nitrogen use efficiency in Kharif maize. Application of slow release neem/sulphur coated urea and the residue in the maize wheat/mustard-mungbean cropping systems recommended for enhancing crop health, soil properties and productivity.

Full doses of P, K and Zn should be applied as basal preferably drilling of fertilizers in bands along the seed using seed-cum-fertilizer drills. Nitrogen should be applied as follows in 5 splits for higher productivity and use efficiency.

Cultural practices for better nutrient uptake

• Raised bed (ridge) planting facilitates in placement of seed and fertilizers at proper place in one operation that helps in getting good crop stand, higher productivity and resource use efficiency.
• Weeds are the serious problem in maize, particularly during kharif / monsoon season they competes with maize for nutrient and causes yield loss up to 35 %. Therefore, timely weed management is needed for achieving higher yield.
• To enhance the profitability of maize based cropping systems planting of three rows of black gram between paired rows of maize proved beneficial over sole maize.

Nutrient deficiency

Nutrient deficiencies in crops reduce yields, quality and profits to the farmer. Yield can often be reduced 10 - 30% by deficiencies of major nutrients before any clear symptoms of deficiency are observed in the field.

References :

1. Maize Production Technologies in India. ICAR-IIMR.
2. A.H. Kalhapure, B.T. Shete and M.B. Dhonde: International Journal of Agriculture and Food Science Technology. Volume 4, Number 3 (2013), pp. 195-206.
3. Lakhwinder Singh, Santosh Kumar, Kuldeep Singh and Dalwinder Singh: Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield attributes of maize under winter season (Zea mays L.). Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2017; 6(5): 1625-1628.
4. Sandeep, Sandeep Upadhyay, Dinesh Tiwari, Ansuman Singh, N. Kumar: Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on the Maize (Zea mays L.) Yield and Soil Properties in Pantnagar Mollisols. International Journal of Applied and Pure Science and Agriculture Volume 2, Issue 10 (10 - 2016).

Authors

1. Madhu Kiran Tumma, PBRD Asia-Pacific Millet India, Pioneer Hibrid Pvt Ltd., Hyderabad 500082
2. K S V Poorna Chandrika, ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500030