GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSE OF ZEA MAIZE TO DIFFERENT TREATMENTS OF BIOFERTILIZERS

Abstract

Two biofertilizers like Azotobacter and Azospirillum were used to inoculate maize
seeds. Treatments included: T1=Control (Recommended dose NPK only), T2=Azotobacter
+ 50% NPK, T3=Azotobacter + 100% NPK, T4=Azospirillum + 50% NPK, T5=
Azospirillum + 100% NPK and T6=Azotobacter + Azo-spirillum + 50% NPK. The results
showed that all the traits relating to growth and yield responded significantly (P<0.01) to
biofertilizers and T5 ranked 1st with 9.83 green leaves plant-1 at harvest, 135.50 cm plant
height, 70.33 g cob weight. Similarly, T3 (Azotobacter + 100% NPK) ranked 2nd with 8.33
green leaves plant-1 at harvest, , 126.83 cm plant height, 17.16 cm ear length, 68.50 g ear
weight, The control treatment T1 ranked 3rd 8.00 green leaves plant-1 at harvest, 107.66 cm
plant height, 63.16 g cob weight. However, T6 (Azotobacter + Azospirillum + 50% NPK),
T4 (Azospirillum + 50% NPK) and T2 (Azotobacter + 50% NPK) ranked 4th, 5th and 6th.
Hence, seed inoculation with Azospirillum + 100% NPK proved to be more effective than
Azotobacter for producing profitable maize production for grain and fodder purpose