FERTILIZER APPLICATION METHOD IN RICE FALLOW MAIZE PRODUCTION

A study was conducted in farmers field in six locations during 2008-09 at Manchala village, Chebrolu mandal, Guntur district to assess the productivity of rice fallow maize influenced by method of nitrogen application. Different methods of fertilizer application had significant influence on yield and yield attributes of maize. Plant height, no. of grains/cob, grain weight/cob was maximum when first split dose of fertilizer was applied as farmers method at 15 days after sowing followed by 2nd and 3rd split applications as placement and was on par with the treatment where first split dose of fertilizer was applied as farmers method at 15 days after sowing followed by 2nd and 3rd split applications as broadcasting. Maximum grain yield was recorded when first split dose of fertilizer was applied as farmers method at 15 days after sowing followed by 2nd and 3rd split applications as placement (7826 Kg ha-1) and was on par with the treatment where first split dose of fertilizer was applied as farmers method at 15 days after sowing followed by 2nd and 3rd split applications as broadcasting (7751 Kg ha-1) and were significantly superior to application of all the splits as placement (7368 Kg ha-1) and broadcasting (7332 Kg ha-1).