INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF DIFFERENT NITROGEN SOURCES FOR MAIZE PRODUCTION

Nitrogen use efficiency always demands for better utilization of the available resources to overcome application losses and reduce the cost of production. Integrated application of organic and inorganic sources of N could be a possible solution. So, a field study was conducted to evaluate yield potential of hybrid maize (32-W-86) with different N sources (urea, FYM and poultry manure (PM)) during two consecutive years 2006 and 2007. A total requirement of 250 kg N ha^-1 for maize hybrid was obtained from these three sources either alone or in combinations. Results of both years revealed that the maximum grain yield, plant height, stem diameter, cob diameter, cob length, number of grains per cob, 1000-grain weight, biological yield and seed protein content were obtained by applying 50% N from urea and 50% N from PM. This combination was also proved the most economical one for the farming community as maximum benefit cost ratio was observed for this treatment. This suggests that synergistic and complementary effects can be seen on yield and yield components of maize with the integration of organic and inorganic fertilizer application.