EFFICIENCY OF INOCULATION WITH AM AND TION WITH AM AND TION WITH AM AND AZOTOBACTER ON AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS AND YIELD OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field investigation was conducted at BAU experimental Farm, Ranchi during rabi season 2015-16 on sandy clay loam soil. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design with 12 treatments replicated thrice. The results revealed that the growth parameters and yield attributes such as plant height (214.4 cm) and shoot dry weight (236.2 g-1), no. of cobs/plant (1.33), no. of row/cobs (15.1) cob weight (172.8 g cob) and cob length (18.3 cm) was recorded maximum when plot received balanced dose of fertilizer with dual inoculation of AM and Azotobacter. Application of AM + Azotobacter inoculation with 100% RDF significantly increased the grain yield (43.7 q ha-1) and stover yield (64.9 q ha-1). The harvest index ranged between 19.9 to 36.9 % of maize. The grain and stover yield was recorded lowest when plot received 0, 50 and 75% recommended dose of plant nutrient along with microbial inoculation alone.