Integrated Nutrient Management for Enhanced Maize Yield and Sustainability in Tamil Nadu, India

Background: Studies across various regions reveal that declining crop yields and profits are not just caused by environmental damage and stress. Deficiencies in essential nutrients, both major and minor, also play a significant role. This is why integrating organic and inorganic source of nutrients is critical for ensuring food security and self-sufficiency for maize. Methods: Field experiment was carried out to examine the integrated use of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients on maize growth and yield components at wetland farm, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu during the 2018-19 to 2019-20 with 15 treatment combination under Split plot design with 3 replications. Main plot consist of five treatments of organic sources of nutrients i.e. M1 (Fish pond silt from desi poultry dropping fed pond @ 5 t/ha and vermicompost @ 5 t/ha), M2 (Fish pond silt from duck dropping fed pond @ 5 t/ha and vermicompost @ 5 t/ha), M3 (Fish pond silt from turkey dropping fed pond @ 5 t/ha and vermicompost @ 5 t/ha), M4 (FYM @ 12.5 t/ha), M5 (No manure application) and three sub plot treatments consist of inorganic sources i.e. S1 (100% recommended dose of NPK), S2 (75% recommended dose of NPK) and S3 (No fertilizer application). Result: The results revealed that the highest grain yield (8293 kg ha-1) and stover yield (11974 ha-1) was obtained with the application of fish pond silt from duck dropping fed pond @ 5 t/ha and vermicompost @ 5 t/ha along with 100% recommended dose of NPK (M2S1) which was 116% and 132% higher to lowest grain yield (3845 kg ha-1) and stover yield (5160 kg ha-1) obtained in control (M5S3).