VALUE ADDED FERTILIZERS AMELIORATE GRAIN YIELD AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF MAIZE CROP

A field trial was conducted to gauge the impact of value added NPK fertilizer,Zarkhez Plus, (N:08%;P:23%; K;18%) and biologically activated Zinc coated Urea (BAZU) maize.Treatments consisted; Control (T1), Straight Fertilizers (DAP, MoP, Urea) (T2), Zarkhez Plus + BAZUas 1/3rd replacement (T3), BAZU as 2/3rd (T4), andZarkhez (T5). Results suggested that plant height, stemgirth, rows cob-1, grains row-1, thousand seed weight were significantly improved by theapplication BAZU. Grain yield increased upto 30% with application ofZarkhez compared straight fertilizers. Application beyond thetotal N requirement did not increase grain but quality withhigher Zn K contents. Maize can be ofZerkhez replacing in-season