Effect of Panchagavya and combination of Biofertilizer and RDF on Hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) Production

The experiments were conducted to find out the effect of organic, inorganic and biological sources of nutrients on the growth and yield of hybrid maize. The experiments were laid out at Annamalai University Experimental Farm, Annamalainagar in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications during summer season (March-June) 2014 and 2015. There were altogether twelve treatments viz., Control (T1), Azospirillum seed inoculation (T2), Panchagavya spray 3% at 30, 45 and 60 DAS (T3), Recommended Dose of Fertilizers application (T4), Azospirillum seed inoculation + Panchagavya spray 3% at 30, 45 and 60 DAS (T5), RDF + Azospirillum seed inoculation (T6), RDF + Panchagavya spray 3% at 30, 45 and 60 DAS (T7), Panchagavya spray 3% at before flowering (T8), RDF+ Panchagavya spray 3% at before flowering (T9), Azospirillum seed inoculation + Panchagavya spray 3% at before flowring (T10), Azospirillum seed inoculation + RDF+ Panchagavya spray 3% at 30, 45 and 60 DAS (T11) and RDF +Azospirillum seed inoculation+ Panchagavya spray 3% at before flowering (T12). The result of the study clearly showed that, seed inoculation of Azospirillum and application of recommended dose of fertilizers along with foliar spray of panchagavya @ 3% at 30, 45 and 60 DAS (T11) registered higher growth characters, yield components, grain and stover yield. Among the treatments (T11) excelled all other treatments in obtaining higher net return and return per rupee invested in hybrid maize. The result evidently proved that the application Azospirillum and application of recommended dose of fertilizers along with foliar spray of panchagavya @ 3% at 30, 45 and 60 DAS (T11) will be an appropriate integrated nutrient management on the growth and yield of hybrid maize with due care on soil fertility.