Abstract :
Micronutrients are trace elements which are needed by the maize crop in small amounts and play an active role in the plant metabolic functions in shortage of which show deficiency symptoms and crop yields are reduced, they are therefore to be added into the soil before crop planting or applied directly to the crop to increase maize productivity. In order to evaluate the effects of micronutrients (B, Zn, Mo, S and Mn) on the grain production of maize (var. Rampur Composite), series of field experiments were conducted during the winter season of three consecutive years (2007 to 2009) in the acidic soil condition (5.1 pH) at National maize Research Programme (NMRP), Rampur. Plant growth and yield parameters were studied. Results of the experiments revealed that the treatments had significant effect on studied parameters. Three years yield data following combined analysis indicated a sharp response of treatments on grain production and was observed to be highly significant, however, the response on the maize grain production among the micronutrient treated plots was observed small (5.43-5.99 t/ha of grains) except with the crop that lacked sulphur nutrient (4.71 t/ha). The highest grain yield (5.99 t/ha) was recorded with the crop which was supplied with all micronutrients (B, Zn, S, Mn and Mo applied in combination with NPK fertilizers at 120:60 40 kg /ha which produced almost 171 % higher grain yield than those with control plot (2.21 t/ha) and 1.48 t/ha of additional grains over NPK treated crop. It is suggested to apply micronutrients along with recommended dose of fertilizers in the acidic soils of Chitwan.
