Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar during kharif 2009 to study the influence of mycorrhizal inoculation and fertilizer levels on the yield and grain quality of hybrid maize under irrigated condition. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with four replications. Four fertilizer levels viz., 200:100:100, 150:100:100, 200:75:100 and 150:75:100 NPK kg ha-1 were the treatments under factor 'A'. Two mycorrhizal treatments viz., no inoculation of mycorrhiza (control) (M - ) and inoculation of mycorrhiza (M + ) were included under factor 'B'. The results revealed that among the fertilizer levels, 200:100:100 NPK kg ha-1 and among the mycorrhizal treatments, mycorrhizal inoculation recorded taller plants, higher number of leaves, LAI, DMP, grain yield and BC ratio. However the yield was comparable with 200:75:100 NPK kg ha-1. Regarding the treatment combinations, eventhough higher CGR and RGR were recorded under fertilizer level of 200:100:100 NPK kg ha-1 and inoculation of mycorrhiza, application of 150:75:100 NPK kg ha-1 along with mycorrhizal inoculation recorded significantly better growth, yield and BC ratio of maize hybrid.

Keywords: Hybrid maize, fertilizer levels, mycorrhiza, growth attributes, yield, economics