Effect of nutrient management on yield and yield attributes of Maize (Zea mays L.) under different tillage practices

A field experiment was carried out during kharif season of 2016 at Crop research farm TCA Dholi, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, (Bihar) to study “Effect of nutrient management on yield and yield attributes of Maize (Zea mays L.) under different tillage practices”. The experiment was laid out in a Split plot Design with three replication. Main plot consist of three different tillage practices viz., a) Zero tillage (ZT), b) Conventional tillage (CT) and c) Bed planting (BT) and sub plot comprised of four different level of nutrient management viz., a) Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) (120, 60 and 50 kg/ha N, P2O5 and K2O), b) Site Specific Nutrient Management (SSNM) based on nutrient expert and c) Farmers practice (FP) (150% of RDF + 10 ton FYM). Highest yield attributes and yield viz., cobs/plant, length of cobs, grains/cob, girth of cobs, test weight and grain yield were observed under bed planting tillage practices which was significantly superior over remaining tillage practices while highest yield attributes and yield were obtained under farmer practices which was significantly superior over recommended dose of fertilizer but statistically at par with site specific nutrient management practices.