Effect of Biofertilizer and Micronutrient on Growth 
and Yield of Summer Maize (Zea mays L.)

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Pranav Kumar,  Shikha Singh,  
Anu Nawhal, Akanksha Sharma

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Received 24 February 2023, Accepted 10 May 2023, Published on 18 August 2023

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ABSTRACT

 

A field experiment was conducted at the Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj during Zaid season 2022 on maize crop. The treatment consist of seed inoculation with biofertilizer (Azotobacter and Azospirillum 20 g/kg each), boron (5 kg/ha and 0.30%) and zinc (25 kg/ha and 0.25%) soil as well as foliar spray and a control (120-60-40 kg NPK/ha). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design which consisted of nine treatments and replicated thrice. The results of the experiment showed that, plant height (193.00 cm), dry weight (86.33 g), number of rows/cob (16.22),  number of grains/row (34.66), weight of cob (196.55 g), seed index (30.33 g), grain yield (4.97 t/ha) and stover yield (9.82 t/ha) were recorded significantly highest with application  Azotobacter 20 g/ha + Boron 0.30% + Zinc 0.25%. Maximum gross returns (156769 INR/ha), net returns (105439.38 INR/ha), and B-C ratio (2.5) were also obtained with the same treatment.

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Keywords   Azospirillum, Azotobacter, boron, economics, zinc.

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