Effect of Sowing Dates and Nitrogen Levels on Growth, Yield, Quality and Economics of Fodder Maize (Zea mays L.) SFM 1

The study aimed to assess the effect of sowing dates and nitrogen levels on yield, yield attributes quality, and economic return of Shalimar Fodder Maize-1 (Zea mays L.). An experiment was carried out at Crop Research Farm of the Division of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Wadura, during Kharif 2022. The experiment consisted of four sowing dates, S1 (15th April), S2 (15th May), S3 (15thJune), and S4 (15th July) and four nitrogen levels, N0 (0 kg ha-1), N1 (60 kg ha-1), N2 (120 kg ha-1) and N3 (180 kg ha-1) as sub-plot treatments, laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. The results showed that the early date of sowing S1 (15th April) had significantly higher values in yield, yield attributes, and quality parameters viz., number of leaves per plant, dry matter accumulation, green fodder yield, dry fodder yield, crude protein content (%), ADF (%), NDF (%), and ash content (%) than other sowing dates, while S4 (15th July) had significantly lower growth, yield, and quality parameters. However, S1 (15th April) recorded a significantly lower leaf stem ratio, which was seen to be decreasing with an increase in sowing dates. Among different nitrogen levels, the yield and quality parameters viz., leaf stem ratio, number of leaves per plant, dry matter accumulation, green fodder yield, dry fodder yield, crude protein, and ash content were significantly influenced by increasing levels of nitrogen, being maximum with N3 (180 kg ha-1), which was at par with N2 (120 kg ha-1), whereas N0 (control) recorded significantly lower growth, yield, and quality parameters. Furthermore, NDF (%) and ADF (%) decreased as nitrogen levels increased, and were lowest at N3 (180 kg ha-1). In terms of economic suitability, the treatment combination of S1N3 (15th April + 180 kg ha-1) had the highest net returns (Rs. 143841.7 ha-1) and benefit: cost ratio (2.87), followed by S1N2 (15th April + 120 kg ha-1) with net return (Rs. 120721.3 ha-1) and benefit: cost ratio (2.45).