Optimising productivity and profitability of rabi maize (Zea mays) through irrigation scheduling and integrated nutrient management in eastern Uttar Pradesh

The cultivation of maize (Zea mays L.) during the winter (rabi) season is increasingly at risk due to insufficient moisture availability and is further hindered by suboptimal nutrition management practices. Hence, the present study was carried out during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2022–23 and 2023–24 at Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design (SPD) with four irrigation levels, viz. I1, 1.0 IW/CPE throughout crop growth; I2, 0.6 IW/CPE ratio during the vegetative phase (VP) fb 1.0 IW/CPE ratio during the reproductive phase (RP); I3, 0.8 IW/CPE-VP fb 1.0 IW/CPE-RP and I4, 1.0 IW/CPE-VPfb 1.2 IW/CPE-RP in the main plots and five INM practices, that were, N1, 100% RDF; N2, 75% RDF+15% RDN through poultry manure (PM) + biofertilisers; N3, 75% RDF + 15% RDN-PM + 5% vermiwash; N4, 75% RDF + 15% RDN-PM + 5% seaweed extract and N5, 75% RDF + 15% RDN-PM + biofertilisers + 5% each of vermiwash and seaweed extract as tank mix in subplots. Results showed that treatment I1 exhibited the highest kernel yield (9,028 kg/ha) registering 9% increases over I2, with an additional net return of ₹17,667/ha. Among the INM practices, N3 yielded kernel yield of 8,897 kg/ha which was 7.9% higher than N1. The synergistic interaction I1N5 achieved thehighest kernel yield (9,317 kg/ha) accompanied by an additional net return of ₹20,791/ha. These findings affirm the importance of maintaining consistent soil moisture and combining RDF with organic and biological nutrient sources to maximise rabi maize productivity and profitability.