Moisture Conservation and Nutrient Management Practices on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea Mays L.)

Abstract

Plant nutrients and soil moisture are considered some of the most important factors affecting physiological characters and grain yield of maize. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at UBKV, Cooch Behar, West Bengal during 2013 and 2014 to study the effects of moisture conservation and nutrient management practices on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.). The experiment was laid out in a split –plot design with three replications. Four levels of moisture conservation practices M0: without irrigation and without mulch, M1: irrigation as and when required, M2: dry weed biomass mulch @5.0t ha-1 M3: FYM mulch @ 5.0 t ha-1 were assigned to main plots and four levels of nutrient management N1: 100% RDF 80:40:40 kg ha-1 of N:P2O5: K2O N2:100% RDF + phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB) + Azotobacter N3:75% RDF+ PSB + Azotobacter + vermicompost (VC) @ 5.0 t ha-1 and N4:50% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + 50% vermicompost @ 2.5t ha-1 for sub plot. Among the moisture conservation practices, application of irrigation recorded the highest growth, yield attributes, yield and harvest index followed by FYM mulch and dry weed bio-mass mulch. Similarly, N, P and K uptake of maize was recorded highest under irrigation followed by FYM mulch; dry weed bio mass mulch and lowest N, P and K uptake were recorded under without irrigation and mulch. Among the nutrient management practices the highest growth, yield attributes, yield, harvest index and N, P & K uptake were recorded under 75% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + vermicompost @ 5.0 t ha-1 followed by 100% RDF + PSB+ Azotobacter & 100% RDF and lowest were recorded under 50% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + 50% vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1 . Likewise, maximum benefits were recorded under 75% RDF + PSB+ Azotobacter + vermicompost @ 5.0 t ha-1 and lowest net return and return per rupee invested were recorded under 50% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + 50% vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1. From this study, maize grown with irrigation and supplied with 75% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + vermicompost @ 5.0 t ha-1 is found the best for obtaining overall gain on a sustainable basis.

Abstract from the paper’s OpenAlex record, shown for indexing and research. Copyright remains with the authors or the publisher. Read at the source ↗

The text the model read, with the source record’s inline markup (italics, sub- and superscripts) rendered and its character entities decoded; quote offsets refer to the raw text.

Claims 8

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Irrigation ranked highest for maize growth, yield attributes, yield, and harvest index, followed by FYM and dry weed biomass mulches.

Taxon: maizeZea mayst0
Treatment: application of irrigatione0
Outcome: growth, yield attributes, yield and harvest indexe0
Direction: higheste0
Comparator: FYM mulch and dry weed bio-mass mulche0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

*Zea mays* · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0
“application of irrigation recorded the highest growth, yield attributes, yield and harvest index followed by FYM mulch and dry weed bio-mass mulch”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1000–1146 · show in text ↑

t0
“Maize”
✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 79–84 · show in text ↑

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Irrigation gave the highest maize N, P and K uptake; no irrigation or mulch gave the lowest.

Taxon: maizeZea mayse0
Treatment: irrigatione0
Outcome: N, P and K uptakee0
Direction: higheste0
Comparator: without irrigation and mulche0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

e0
“N, P and K uptake of maize was recorded highest under irrigation followed by FYM mulch; dry weed bio mass mulch and lowest N, P and K uptake were recorded under without irrigation and mulch”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1159–1348 · show in text ↑

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

The 75% RDF plus PSB, Azotobacter and vermicompost treatment ranked highest for maize growth, yield attributes, yield and harvest index.

Taxon: maizeZea mayst0
Treatment: 75% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + vermicompost @ 5.0 t ha-1e0
Interactor: PSBe0symbiont
Second interactor: AzotobacterAzotobactere0symbiont
Outcome: growth, yield attributes, yield, harvest indexe0
Direction: higheste0
Comparator: 100% RDF + PSB+ Azotobacter & 100% RDFe0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

*Azotobacter* · Second interactor · picture of the genus (one of its species)DAN H. JONES · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0
“the highest growth, yield attributes, yield, harvest index and N, P & K uptake were recorded under 75% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + vermicompost @ 5.0 t ha-1 followed by 100% RDF + PSB+ Azotobacter & 100% RDF and lowest were recorded under 50% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + 50% vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1390–1684 · show in text ↑

t0
“Maize”
✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 79–84 · show in text ↑

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

The 75% RDF plus PSB, Azotobacter and vermicompost treatment ranked highest for maize N, P and K uptake.

Taxon: maizeZea mayst0
Treatment: 75% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + vermicompost @ 5.0 t ha-1e0
Interactor: PSBe0symbiont
Second interactor: AzotobacterAzotobactere0symbiont
Outcome: N, P & K uptakee0
Direction: higheste0
Comparator: 100% RDF + PSB+ Azotobacter & 100% RDFe0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

e0
“the highest growth, yield attributes, yield, harvest index and N, P & K uptake were recorded under 75% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + vermicompost @ 5.0 t ha-1 followed by 100% RDF + PSB+ Azotobacter & 100% RDF and lowest were recorded under 50% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + 50% vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1390–1684 · show in text ↑

t0
“Maize”
✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 79–84 · show in text ↑

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultnegativemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

The 50% RDF treatment with PSB, Azotobacter and vermicompost ranked lowest for the reported growth and yield measures.

Taxon: maizeZea mayst0
Treatment: 50% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + 50% vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1e0
Interactor: PSBe0symbiont
Second interactor: AzotobacterAzotobactere0symbiont
Outcome: loweste0
Direction: loweste0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

e0
“lowest were recorded under 50% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + 50% vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1600–1684 · show in text ↑

t0
“Maize”
✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 79–84 · show in text ↑

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

The 75% RDF plus PSB, Azotobacter and vermicompost treatment gave maximum benefits.

Taxon: maizeZea mayst0
Treatment: 75% RDF + PSB+ Azotobacter + vermicompost @ 5.0 t ha-1e0
Interactor: PSBe0symbiont
Second interactor: AzotobacterAzotobactere0symbiont
Outcome: benefitse0
Direction: maximume0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

e0
“maximum benefits were recorded under 75% RDF + PSB+ Azotobacter + vermicompost @ 5.0 t ha-1”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1697–1788 · show in text ↑

t0
“Maize”
✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 79–84 · show in text ↑

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultnegativemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

The 50% RDF plus PSB, Azotobacter and vermicompost treatment gave the lowest net return and return per rupee invested.

Taxon: maizeZea mayst0
Treatment: 50% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + 50% vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1e0
Interactor: PSBe0symbiont
Second interactor: AzotobacterAzotobactere0symbiont
Outcome: net return and return per rupee investede0
Direction: loweste0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

e0
“lowest net return and return per rupee invested were recorded under 50% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + 50% vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1793–1918 · show in text ↑

t0
“Maize”
✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 79–84 · show in text ↑

Recommendationauthor interpretationoriginal resultpositivebasis n/a

Claim · model-written summary

The authors recommend irrigation with 75% RDF, PSB, Azotobacter and vermicompost for sustainable overall gain in maize.

Taxon: maizeZea mayse0
Treatment: irrigation and supplied with 75% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + vermicompost @ 5.0 t ha-1e0
Interactor: PSBe0symbiont
Second interactor: AzotobacterAzotobactere0symbiont
Outcome: overall gain on a sustainable basise0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

e0
“maize grown with irrigation and supplied with 75% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter + vermicompost @ 5.0 t ha-1 is found the best for obtaining overall gain on a sustainable basis”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1937–2106 · show in text ↑

Azotobacter · yield · Zea mays (maize)Results differ

61 papers: 57 positive, 4 negative or no effect

56 papers in the same direction as this paper · 4 in the opposite direction

positive
NPK with Azotobacter seed inoculation gave higher net returns and B:C ratio.
Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, productivity and economics of maize (Zea mays) · 2001
Same directionCited by this paper
negative
FYM plus Azotobacter, rockphosphate and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria had the lowest growth and yield attributes.
Effect of organic, integrated and chemical sources of nutrient on growth and productivity of maize (Zea mays) · 2001
Opposite direction
no effect
Azotobacter inoculation did not affect sweet corn growth, yield, quality or economics.
Effect of nutrient management on growth, yield, quality, economics and nutrient partitioning of sweet corn · 2009
Opposite direction

57 papers more in this group

See all 61 papers →

Azotobacter · nutrient: content · Zea mays (maize)Results agree

17 papers: 17 positive, 0 negative or no effect

16 papers in the same direction as this paper

positive
Combined biofertilizer and organic fertilizer enhanced maize nutrient uptake.
The Integration of Bio and Organic Fertilizers Improve Plant Growth, Grain Yield, Quality and Metabolism of Hybrid Maize (Zea mays L.) · 2020
Same direction
positive
Combined L-TRP and Azotobacter increased total nitrogen uptake by 40%.
Precursor (L-tryptophan)-Inoculum (Azotobacter) Interaction for Improving Yields and Nitrogen Uptake of Maize · 2005 · compared with untreated and uninoculated control
Same direction
positive
Maize with the 75% RDF nutrient package had the highest NPK uptake among nutrient-management practices
Advantage of maize (Zea mays)-based intercropping system to different nutrient- management practices · 2001
Same direction

13 papers more in this group

See all 17 papers →

irrigation · nutrient: content · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

104 papers: 84 positive, 20 negative or no effect

83 papers in the same direction as this paper · 18 in the opposite direction · 2 reporting no difference from an alternative

negative
Deficit irrigation decreased leaf N, P and K in maize.
Regulation of Agronomic Traits, Nutrient Uptake, Osmolytes and Antioxidants of Maize as Influenced by Exogenous Potassium Silicate under Deficit Irrigation and Semiarid Conditions · 2020
Opposite direction
no effect
Effluent irrigation did not affect shoot sulfur, boron, copper, iron or manganese in properly fertilized maize.
Maize Growth and Changes in Soil Fertility After Irrigation with Treated Sewage Effluent. II. Soil Acidity, Exchangeable Cations, and Sulfur, Boron, and Heavy Metals Availability · 2005
Opposite direction
negative
Limited water supply decreased nitrogen (N) uptake compared with sufficient water.
Integrated application of fertilization increased maize (Zea mays L.) yield by improving soil quality, particularly under limited water conditions in a semi-arid sandy area · 2025 · compared with sufficient water supply
Opposite direction

100 papers more in this group

See all 104 papers →

phosphorus · nutrient: content · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

244 papers: 190 positive, 54 negative or no effect

189 papers in the same direction as this paper · 50 in the opposite direction · 4 reporting no difference from an alternative

no effect
Phosphorus application did not increase silicon and phosphorus contents in maize shoots and roots.
Effect of Silicon on Low pH Soil Phosphorus Sorption and on Uptake and Growth of Maize · 2004
Opposite direction
negative
Phosphorus deprivation decreased chlorophyll and phosphorus fractions throughout the maize shoot.
Phosphate Deficiency in Maize. V. Mobilization of Nitrogen and Phosphorus within Shoots of Young Plants and its Relationship to Senescence · 1995
Opposite direction
no effect
The HP treatment did not affect the absorption of Zn by maize.
THE ROLE OF VA MYCORRHIZAE IN THE ABSORPTION OF P AND Zn BY MAIZE IN FIELD AND GROWTH CHAMBER EXPERIMENTS · 1989
Opposite direction

240 papers more in this group

See all 244 papers →

inoculation · nutrient: content · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

306 papers: 288 positive, 18 negative or no effect

287 papers in the same direction as this paper · 16 in the opposite direction · 2 reporting no difference from an alternative

302 papers more in this group

See all 306 papers →

inoculation · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

538 papers: 479 positive, 59 negative or no effect

478 papers in the same direction as this paper · 52 in the opposite direction · 7 reporting no difference from an alternative

positive
NPK with Azotobacter seed inoculation gave higher net returns and B:C ratio.
Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, productivity and economics of maize (Zea mays) · 2001
Same directionCited by this paper
no effect
Half NP plus Biopower with BPF or EM gave similar maize yield to full NP.
Enhancing crop growth, nutrients availability, economics and beneficial rhizosphere microflora through organic and biofertilizers · 2007 · compared with full rate of NP fertilizer
Opposite direction
no effect
Inoculation under high nitrogen input produced no additive yield effect.
Maize Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense Ab-V5 Cells Enriched with Exopolysaccharides and Polyhydroxybutyrate Results in High Productivity under Low N Fertilizer Input · 2017
Opposite direction

534 papers more in this group

See all 538 papers →

phosphorus · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

627 papers: 549 positive, 78 negative or no effect

548 papers in the same direction as this paper · 69 in the opposite direction · 9 reporting no difference from an alternative

no effect
Phosphorus-based manure or compost application gave corn grain yields similar to N-based treatments.
Phosphorus‐ and Nitrogen‐Based Manure and Compost Applications Corn Production and Soil Phosphorus · 1999 · compared with N‐based treatments
Opposite direction
no effect
No effect of P fertilizer on maize yield was detected early in the trial.
SUSTAINABLE MAIZE PRODUCTION USING GLIRICIDIA/MAIZE INTERCROPPING IN SOUTHERN MALAWI · 2006
Opposite direction
negative
Lowest phosphorus supply significantly depressed maize shoot dry matter.
Effect of Selected Mycorrhizal Inoculation on Phosphorus Sustainability in Sterile and Non‐sterile Soils in the Harran Plain in South Anatolia · 2003
Opposite direction

623 papers more in this group

See all 627 papers →

irrigation · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

1,016 papers: 791 positive, 225 negative or no effect

790 papers in the same direction as this paper · 209 in the opposite direction · 16 reporting no difference from an alternative

negative
Nanoparticle irrigation had mostly insignificant inhibitory effects on long-term shoot production.
Colloidal suspensions of clay or titanium dioxide nanoparticles can inhibit leaf growth and transpiration via physical effects on root water transport · 2009
Opposite direction
no effect
Grain yield did not differ significantly between 75% FIT and 100% FIT.
Maize Evapotranspiration, Yield Production Functions, Biomass, Grain Yield, Harvest Index, and Yield Response Factors under Full and Limited Irrigation · 2013 · compared with 100% FIT
Opposite direction
negative
Minimum irrigation lowered average maize yield by 13% versus full irrigation.
Performance of Double‐Cropped Winter Wheat–Summer Maize under Minimum Irrigation in the North China Plain · 2006 · compared with fully irrigated treatment (FI)
Opposite direction

1,012 papers more in this group

See all 1,016 papers →

8 of 10 groups shown: named compounds and organisms first, then groups whose results differ (checked claim by claim), then those with positive and negative results, then the smaller groups.

Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.

Abstract

Claims 8

The same questions in other papers

Azotobacter · yield · Zea mays (maize)Results differ

Azotobacter · nutrient: content · Zea mays (maize)Results agree

irrigation · nutrient: content · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

phosphorus · nutrient: content · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

inoculation · nutrient: content · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

inoculation · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

phosphorus · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

irrigation · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results