Yield and economic response of Rabi maize (Zea mays L.) to different mulching and nutrient management

An experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2019-20 with the objective evaluating effect mulching and nutrient management practices on growth, yield economics maize (Zea mays L.) at Balindi Research Complex, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal, India clay loam soil. The laid out in Randomized Block Design nine treatment (T) combinations such as T1- Live mulch (Trifolium alexandrium)+50% recommended dose fertilizer (RDF) [120:60:40 kg /ha N, P2O5 K2O], T2- Mulch+75% RDF, T3- Mulch+100% T4- Straw Mulch (rice straw)+ 50 % T5- T6- T7- No Mulch+50% RDF ,T8- T9- Mulch+100 replicated thrice. Experimental results revealed that different levels exerted significant influence yield, net return benefit-cost ratio (B:C). Application straw mulch+100% (T6) resulted highest plant height (164.57 cm), grain (5.28 tonnes /ha), stover (7.65 tonnes/ha) B: C (2.16), however, T7 recorded lowest yield. So, integrated application along 100% could be for better higher profit maize. Integration organic might useful long-term soil health benefits exhaustive crop.