Sub-surface drip fertigation of nitrogen coupled with crop residue incorporation enhanced the growth and yield of maize in an alluvial soils

A two-year field experiment was conducted at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, to standardize the N-fertigation schedule and crop residue management in sub-surface drip fertigated (SSDF) maize [Pusa HQPM 1’ improved: double bio-fortified]. The experiment was laid-out in a split-plot design with 3 replications. There were 8 main-plot treatments comprising different N sub-surface drip fertigation levels (0, 50, 75, 100% RDN) with one conventional cultivation of maize, where RDN (150 kg/ha) was applied as per recommendation. Under sub-surface fertigation of N, each dose of N was divided into 3-and 4-splits, for fertigation. Sub-plot treatments included greengram residue (3 t/ha) and no greengram residue incorporation. P and K (60 kg P2 O5 /ha and 40 kg K2 O/ha respectively) fertilizers were supplied equally in all the plots by SSDF. Results revealed that plant height at various stages statistically varied with levels and splits of SSDF-N and crop residue incorporation. The highest plant height and leaf area were recorded with 100% RDN-4S which remained at par with 100% RDN-3S and 75% RDN-4S. Conventional maize cultivation was inferior to ‘RDN100’ and 75%, however on par with 50% RDN. The nitrogen uptake was found significantly superior in 100 and 75%RDN over conventional and control treatments. Similarly, the grain yield of maize was highest under 100% ‘RDN-4’ &3 S, and 75% RDN-4S, which were at par with one another. Overall, it could be concluded that sub-surface fertigation of N not only improved the growth and yield of maize but also helped in 25–50% saving of valuable fertilizer.