Abstract

                                Field investigations were carried at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during kharif 2008 and 2009 to study the effect of drip fertigation on nutrient use efficiency of maize (Zea mays) based intercropping systems. Results revealed that irrespective of different levels of fertilizer, fertigation significantly increased the partial factor productivity (PFP) and agronomic efficiency (AE) as compared to surface method of fertilizer application. Among the intercropping systems tested, higher nutrient use efficiency was realised under maize + vegetable coriander intercropping system. Partial Factor Productivity (PFP) decreased with increasing rates of fertigation. Drip fertigation with 50 per cent RDF in which 50 per cent of P and K as WSF resulted in higher PFP of 80.90 and 161.80 kg kg-1 N and P, respectively. The pooled data revealed that higher grain yield of maize (7309 kg ha-1) was observed under fertigation of 100 per cent RDF in which 50 per cent P and K as WSF. Drip fertigation of 100 per cent RDF (50 per cent P and K as WSF) increased the yield upto 55 per cent compared to surface irrigation and soil application of fertilizer. Fertigation with normal fertilizer increased the yield upto 18 kg per kg of nutrient applied, whereas water soluble fertilizer (50 per cent) increased the yield upto 25 kg per kg of nutrient applied.

Key words : Drip fertigation, PFP, NUE, AE, maize, intercropping