Evaluation of Biofertilizers in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Bio-fertilizers are becoming increasingly popular in many countries and for many crops, but very few studies on their effect on grain yield have been conducted on maize. A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Karimnagar for two years during kharif 2016-17 & 2017-18, to evaluate the suitable bio-fertilizers in maize crop in red sandy loam soils. The initial soil status indicated high available N, P, K (613.9, 62.8, 436 kg/ha respectively). The experiment was carried out in Randomized block design with 12 treatments (T1- Control i.e. Recommended N & K, T2- PSB-I, T3- PSB-II, T4- NPK consortia, T5- 60 kg P2O5/ha, T6- 30 kg P2O5/ha + PSB-I, T7- 60 kg P2O5/ha + PSB-I, T8- 30 kg P2O5/ha + PSB-II, T9- 60 kg P2O5/ha + PSB-II, T10- 30 kg P2O5/ha + NPK consortia, T11- 60 kg P2O5/ha + NPK consortia, T12- 90 kg P2O5/ha). Among the different bio-fertilizers application to maize crop, the 30 kg P2O5/ha + PSB-II (8566 kg/ha) along with recommended dose of N & K recorded the highest grain yield and it is found to be on par with all the bio fertilizer treatments along with recommended dose of N & K applied to maize crop. This study reveals that as the available soil P high in status, the maize crop yield did not respond to the application of biofertilizers (PSB I or II and NPK consortia) with or without phosphorous application.