Optimizing maize productivity through split nitrogen application strategies

A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Karimnagar for two years during Kharif & Rabi 2014-15 & 2015-16 in red sandy loam soils. The initial soil status indicated of high available N (614 kg ha-1), P (63 kg ha-1) and K (436 kg ha-1), respectively. The experiment was carried out in Randomized block design with following treatments nitrogen (N) in 3 splits (33% at basal: 33% at knee height: 33% at tasseling), N in 3 splits (10% at basal: 50% at knee height: 40% at tasseling), N in 3 splits (20% at basal: 50% at knee height: 30% at tasseling), N in 4 splits (25% at basal: 25 % at 30 DAS: 25% at knee height: 25% at tasseling), N in 4 splits (10% at basal: 35 % at 30 DAS: 35% at knee height: 20% at tasseling), N in 4 splits (20% at basal: 30 % at 30 DAS: 30% at knee height: 20% at tasseling), N in 5 splits (20% at basal: 20 % at 30 DAS: 20% at knee height: 20% at tasseling: 20 % at grain filling ) and N in 5 splits (15% at basal: 25 % at 30 DAS: 25% at knee height: 25% at tasseling: 10 % at grain filling). Recommended dose of nitrogen @ 240 kg ha-1 applied as per the treatments, phosphorus (80 kg ha-1) applied as a basal and potash (80 kg ha-1 applied as a two splits half at basal and remaining half at flowering stage. Among the different treatments there was no significant difference was observed.