Effect of Soil Application of Cattle Urine and Nitrogen on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake by Maize (Fodder) in Inceptisol

The experiment was conducted to study effect of soil application of cattle urine and nitrogen levels on growth, yield and nutrient uptake by maize (fodder) in Inceptisol at the Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry and Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, College of Agriculture, Pune, during Kharif-2019. There were seven treatment viz., 1) Absolute control; 2) Recommended dose of fertilizers 100:50:50 kg ha-1 N, P2O5 and K2O; 3) General recommended dose of fertilizers 100:50:50 kg ha-1 N, P2O5 and K2O + FYM @ 5 t ha-1; 4) 25% RDN + 75% N through cattle urine + FYM @ 5 t ha-1; 5) 50% RDN + 50% N through cattle urine + + FYM @ 5 t ha-1; 6) 75% RDN + 25% N + FYM @ 5 t ha-1; 7) 100% N through cattle urine + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 and three replications in completely randomized design.

Periodical plant height and number of functional leaves at 20, 40 and 60 DAS was found to be significantly higher with the soil application 50% RDN through urea + 50% N through cattle urine along with FYM @ 5 t ha-1. The magnitude of increase in the leaf area was found higher from 494 to 969 cm2 at 40 to 60 DAS than 20 to 40 DAS (203 to 494 cm2) with the application of 75% RDN through urea + 25% N through cattle urine + FYM @ 5 t ha-1. Soil application of 75% RDN through urea + 25% N through cattle urine with FYM @ 5 t ha-1 reported significantly higher chlorophyll in fodder maize. Soil application of 75% RDN through urea + 25% N through cattle urine + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 reported significantly higher nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, iron, zinc and copper uptake by fodder maize. Similar treatment also recorded significantly higher green fodder (984 g pot-1) and dry matter (423.11 g pot-1) yield of maize. Similar treatment also found superior for nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, iron, zinc and copper uptake by fodder maize.