Growth Attributes of Maize (Zea Mays L) Crop and Nutrient Uptake as impacted by Sulphur and Micronutrients Application

Abstract

Maize, also known as the "queen of cereals," is a highly nutritious crop that requires a significant amount of nutrients to grow. It is particularly sensitive to deficiency of sulphur. It plays a significant role in the synthesis of chlorophyll, oil, and protein. A field experiment was conducted at Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited in Mumbai, Maharashtra, during the Kharif season 2023, to assess the impact of elemental sulphur application and foliar spray of multi micronutrient on maize plant growth and uptake of nutrients by maize as well as the post-harvest status of soil. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with five treatments that were replicated six times each. T1 is the absolute control, T2 is 100% RDF, T3 is the RDF NPK with 45 kg/ha of elemental S, T4 is the RDF NPK with 45 kg/ha coupled with foliar spray of multi micronutrient, and T5 is the RDF NPK with foliar spray of multi micronutrient. The results indicated that application of 45 kg of S per hectare, in combination with a foliar spray of multi micronutrients, resulted in remarkable growth parameters of maize crops. These included plant height, cob height, yield (in kg/ha), dry weight per plant and also the uptake of essential nutrients. This was markedly higher when compared to the other treatments. Except 100 grain weight which was at par with other treatments. While girth of cob and protein content were found non-significant.  The study reports suggest that the combined use of S and multimicronutrient in maize crop positively impact the uptake of nutrients and growth attributes.