Influence of Sulfur and Zinc on Growth and Yield of Rabi Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (UP) India, during the rabi season of 2022-2023. To study the response of sulfur (20,30,40 kg/ha) and zinc (15,20,25 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in Randomized block design with 9 treatments replicated thrice. Results showed that the plant height (164.2 cm), dry weight (165.8 g/plant), Crop growth rate (15.9 g/m2/day), number of cobs per plant (2.33), number of grains per cob (533.8), grain yield (6.42 t/ha) and stover yield (14.36 t/ha) were recorded in treatment 9 with the application of Sulfur 40 kg/ha + Zinc 25 kg/ha. Higher gross returns (INR 1,30,264.40/ha), higher net returns (INR 90,007.65/ha) and maximum B:C ratio (2.23) were also recorded in treatment-9 (Sulfur 40 kg/ha + Zinc 25 kg/ha).