EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT N:P RATIOS IN MAIZE IN CENTRAL AND BARANI ZONES OF THE PUNJAB

Abstract

N : P application in optimum amount is considered to be very important and necessary, as our soils are deficient in Nitrogen and Phosphorous. The past studies on different crops showed that N and P application in 1:1, 1.5:1, 2:1 and 3:1 ratios under different soil conditions, gave better yield results. These N : P ratios were tried in maize crops in central and barani zones of the Punjab in order to find out the best economical N : P ratio. A total of 20 and 8 replicated trials were conducted on maize crop during the year 1996 to 1998 in the farmers' fields of Central and Barani zones of the Punjab respectively in order to evaluate different N:P ratios. In central zones of the Punjab, the treatment 1.5:1 N:P ratio gave the highest yield, which was significantly higher than that of 1:1, 3:1 and4:1 N:P ratios. However, the potash application @ 100 kg ha' along with 1.5:1 N: P ratio gave significantly higher yield over N:P 1.5:1 ratio alone. The highest VCR of 2.7 and maximum GNR of 7.3 were also obtained by the same treatment i.e. 1.5:1 N:P ratio. In barani zone of the Punjab the treatment 2:1 N:P ratio gave the highest yield, very closely followed by 1.5:1 N:P ratio. The highest VCR of 2.5, 2.4 and maximum GNR of 6.5 were also obtained from 2:1 and 1.5:1 N:P ratios, respectively.