Abstract

This study was undertaken at instructional Farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, India (20.95°N 72.93°E, elevation of 10 m above sea level) during winter season of 2010 to work out nitrogen (N) management through organic and inorganic sources to increase corn yields and its components with resilient performance under irrigated conditions. The nitrogen treatments tested were 100% N through chemical fertilizer, 75% N through chemical fertilizer + 25% through bio-compost, 75% N through chemical fertilizer + 25% through vermicompost, 50% N through chemical fertilizer + 25% through biocompost + 25% through vermicompost along with two vermicompost treatments viz., no sprays of vermiwash and three sprays of vermiwash. Combined analysis of variance for them depicted significant results for all the yield contributing characters. The highest grain yield (5261 kg ha^-1) and stover yield (7405 kg ha^-1) were obtained from the 50% nitrogen through chemical fertilizer + 25% through biocompost + 25% through vermi-compost.  The use of vermiwash imparted a rise of 11.21% grain and 10.28% stover yield over control.

Key words: Integrated nitrogen management, vermicompost, Zea mays, organic farming.