Effect of Tillage, Crop Residue Management and Nutrient Levels on Energetics, Microbial Growth, Dehydrogenase Activity, Weed Parameters, Quality Parameters and Soil Physico-Chemical Properties of Maize (Zea mays L.)

The field experiment on “Effect of tillage, crop residue management and nutrient levels on energetics, microbial growth, dehydrogenase activity, weed parameters, quality parameters and soil physico-chemical properties of maize (Zea mays L.)” was conducted during rabi season of 2022-23 at Maize Research Centre, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University, Agricultural Research Institute, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana. The experiment comprised of 12 treatment combinations laid out in a split–plot design with three replications. The main–plot treatments included four different tillage practices:M1-Conventional tillage (Plough + Cultivator + Rotovator), M2-Residue incorporation (After 10 days of spreading the haulms, only rotovator was run), M3- Residue incorporation (After spreading the haulms, microbial consortium was sprayed and after 10 days only rotovator was run) and M4- Zero-tillage (Only microbial consortium was sprayed on the haulms). Sub–plot treatments included three nutrient levels: N1- 100% RDF (240-80-80 N-P2O5-K2O kg ha-1), N2: 100% RDN & P and 50% RDK (240-80-40 N-P2O5-K2O kg ha-1), and N3: 87.5% of RDN, 75% RDP and 75% RDK (210-60-60 N-P2O5-K2O kg ha-1). Results revealed that, among the tillage practices, residue incorporation (M3) had recorded significantly higher total microbial population, dehydrogenase activity and post-harvest soil available NPK of maize and lowest weed density and weed dry matter and it was on par with zero-tillage (M4) whereas all the parameters were significantly lower in conventional tillage (M1). However, Energy indices viz., energy use efficiency, specific energy, net energy, energy productivity, energy intensiveness was found to be the best in M1 -conventional tillage. Among the different nutrient levels, N1 (100% RDF) had shown significantly higher total microbial population, dehydrogenase activity and post-harvest soil available NPK of maize. Energy indices viz., energy use efficiency, specific energy, net energy and energy productivity was found to be the best in N1- 100% RDF. Whereas energy intensiveness was found to be best with N3- 87.5% of RDN, 75% RDP and 75% RDK. However, energy indices like energy use efficiency, energy productivity and energy intensiveness indicated non-significant effect of different nutrient levels. Tillage as well as nutrient levels did not exert any significant effect on moisture content and bulk density at sowing, tasselling & silking and at harvest stages. Similar results were followed with quality parameters. The interaction effect due to tillage and nutrient levels on soil microbial studies, enzymatic activity, weed parameters, quality parameters, soil physico-chemical parameters, and energy indices was found non- significant.