Book of Extended summaries ISDA

International Conference on Reimagining Rainfed Agro-ecosystems: Challenges & Opportunities
during 22-24, December 2022 at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad
production which resulted in their deficiencies. The integrated plant nutrient supply envisages
conjunctive use of inorganic and organic sources of plant nutrients for crop productivity besides
sustaining soil health. Application of organic materials along with inorganic fertilizers in the soil
leads to sustained productivity and also vermicomposting technology involves the bioconversion
of organic waste into vermicasts and vermiwash utilizing earthworms. Taking in to
consideration the factors discussed, present investigation was carried out at Experimental Farm,
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Latur with object to study the effect of
integrated nutrient management on sweet corn.
Methodology
The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with seven treatments and replicated
thrice. The treatments were T1- 100% RDF, T2 - 100% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha -1 , T3 - 75% RDF
+ FYM @ 5 t ha -1 , T4 - 100% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha -1 , T5 - 75% RDF +
Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha -1 , T6 - 100% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha -1 + Vermicompost @ 1.25 t ha -1 +
Azospirillumand T7 -75% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha -1 + Vermicompost @ 1.25 t ha -1 +
Azospirillum.The soil of experimental plot was clayey in texture with chemical composition
such as low in available nitrogen (125.3 kg ha -1 ), medium in available phosphorous (18.20 kg ha -
1 ) and very high in available potassium (498.58 kg ha -1 ). The soil was moderately alkaline in
reaction having pH (7.7). The sweet corn hybrid Sugar- 75 was sown on 1 st August, 2019 at
distance of 60 cm x 30 cm apart. Organic manures viz., FYM and vermicompost were applied to
the respective plots fifteen days before sowing. The Biofertilizer Azospirillum obtained from the
Biofertilizers Production Unit, VNMK, Parbhani was applied one day before sowing @ 10 ml
kg -1 . As per treatments, half dose of nitrogenous fertilizers and full dose of phosphatic and
potassic fertilizers were applied. The FYM and vermicompost was applied uniformly to all the
plots as per treatments. The next half dose of nitrogen fertilizer was applied in bands as top
dressing one month after sowing. The rainfall received during the experimentation was 631.8
mm.
Results
The result revealed that the application of 100% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha -1 + Vermicompost @
1.25 t ha -1 +Azospirillumsignificantly increased the growth characters viz., plant height (200 cm),
number of functional leaves (17.60), dry matter accumulation (128.33 g), leaf area (76.35 dm 2 ).
Similar results were also reported by Jadhav and Shelke (2012), Kurneet al., (2012) and Thorat
(2016). The yield attributes namely length of cob (33.02 cm), girth of cob (23.33 cm), number of
kernel row cob -1 (16.83), number of kernel cob -1 (783.33), total weight of cob plant -1 (387.40 g),
Sustainable soil management for resilient rainfed agro-ecosystem: conservation agriculture, organic farming,
INM, soil-microorganisms-plant interactions
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