Author(s):

Priya P, Ashoka P, Sarojani J Karakkannavar and Guruprasad GS

Abstract: Under rainfed conditions, farmers rarely use micro-nutrients for crop production, due to which soils become deficient especially in zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe) and boron (B). Secondly, farmers apply nutrients solely through soil application but scarcity/less availability of moisture makes the nutrients unavailable for crop plants. Under such circumstances, foliar application of micronutrients may play a key role for better crop growth and yield. Therefore, this on-farm testing was conducted to investigate the role of Zn, Fe and B application alone and in combination through soil and foliar application methods on growth, yield and net returns of maize grown under rainfed conditions. Results showed that combined application of Zn, Fe and B on foliage has improved the grain yield due to substantial expansion in entire yield related traits. Combined foliar application of Zn, Fe and B harvested 16.96 per cent and 25.27 per cent more grain yield (67.25 and 69.69 q ha^- during 2016-17 and 2017-18, respectively) than farmers practice (57.50 and 55.63 q ha^-1 during 2016-17 and 2017-18, respectively). Similar trend was observed in pooled data also [21.03 % higher grain yield (68.47 q ha^-1) than farmers practice (56.57 q ha^-1)]. Higher gross return, net returns and benefit: cost ratio was also obtained by soil and foliar application of Zn, Fe and B. It has improved the gross income (Rs. 94822 and Rs. 99305 during 2016-17 and 2017-18, respectively), net income (Rs. 76622 and Rs. 81055 during 2016-17 and 2017-18, respectively) and benefit: cost ratio (BCR) (5.21 and 5.44 during 2016-17 and 2017-18, respectively) against farmers practice and similar trend was noticed in pooled data also (Rs. 97064, Rs. 78839 and 5.21 of gross return, net return and B:C ratio, respectively). In conclusion, application of RDF along with soil and foliar application of micronutrients has improved maize yield due to significant expansion in yield related traits and thus improved net returns of maize grown under rainfed conditions of Suttakote village of Hirekerur taluk, Haveri district.

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