Effect of integrated nutrient management on kharif hybrid maize, its residual effect on toria and system profitability of maize-toria cropping sequence in Odisha

Monocropping of rice is predominantly practised by farmers during kharif season in large acerage of land in Odisha. Rice grown in upland, very frequently faces drought which causes yield reduction and meagre farm income. In this situation maize can be a better substitute for rice as it is a C4 plant and can survive with global warming. A short duration oilseed crop like toria can be grown after maize during rabi season with minimal management which would enhance the farm income even from the upland ecosystem. To manage this cropping sequence a well planned integrated nutrient management practice is necessary. In view of this, a field experiment was conducted during kharif and pre rabi seasons of year 2023-24 and 2024-25 at research farm of Regional Research & Technology Transfer Sub Station, Kirei, Sundergarh, Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology, to find out most efficient combination of different organic and inorganic sources of nutrients to increase the productivity of maize and to study its residual effect on succeeding toria in maize-toria cropping sequence. Integrated application of 75% RDFN (recommended dose of fertilizer nitrogen)+25% RDN(recommended dose of nitrogen by vermicompost (VC) resulted in highest maize grain yield of 6.79 tonnes ha-1 which was 128% higher over the control and 16.5% over application of 100% RDF. The different nutrient management practices applied to hybrid maize had significant residual effect on the succeeding toria crop. Combined application of 75% RDFN through inorganic fertilizer and 25% N through vermicompost (T2) resulted in significantly higher maize equivalent yield but was at par with 50% RDFN + 50% RDN through vermicompost(T5). However, considering the economics of the system (return per rupee invested: 2.17), application of 75% RDFN from inorganic source and 25% RDN from the organic source (vermicompost) to maize in kharif season and growing the succeeding crop toria in rabi season under residual fertility condition performed the best.