Journal of Scientific Research and Reports

The present investigation was conducted during the rabi season of 2019-20 at College of Agriculture, NAU, Navsari to study the “Effect of seed priming and fertilizer levels on rabi maize under south Gujarat condition”. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with factorial concept (FRBD) with ten treatment combinations consisting of two factors which consists seed priming, Control (No priming), Seed priming with water for 12 hrs., Seed priming with 0.5% KCl for 12 hrs., Seed priming with 0.5% KMnO₄ for 12 hrs., Seed priming with 0.5% KH₂PO₄ for 12 hrs and fertilizer levels, 75% RDF (112.5+45+00, N: P₂O₅: K₂O kg/ha) and 100 RDF (150+60+00, N: P₂O₅: K₂O kg/ha). Treatments are replicated three times. The result indicated Seed priming with 0.5% KH₂PO₄ for 12 hrs recorded significantly higher grain yield (46.75 q/ha), straw yield (85.43 q/ha), harvest index (35.23%), protein yield (567.20 kg/ha), net return (₹ 74618/ha) and B:C ratio (2.24) as compared to other treatments. In case of fertilizer levels recorded significantly higher grain yield (46.91 q/ha), straw yield (86.94 q/ha), harvest index (34.99%), protein content (12.41 %), protein yield (584.23 kg/ha), net return (₹74742/ha) and B:C ratio (2.33) in treatment of 100% RDF (150+60+00, N: P₂O₅: K₂O kg/ha). Treatment combination S₅F₂ (KH₂PO₄ at 0.5 % for 12 hrs. with 100% RDF i.e., 150+60+00, N: P₂O₅: K₂O kg/ha) recorded significantly higher grain yield (52.80q/ha), straw yield (91.14 q/ha), harvest index (36.68%), Protein yield (686.56 kg/ha) net return (₹86657/ha) and B:C ratio (2.56) as compared to other treatments. Thus a combination of Seed priming 0.5% KH₂PO₄ for 12 hrs with 100% RDF (150+60+00, N: P₂O₅: K₂O kg/ha) helps in increasing grain yield, straw yield, harvest index, protein yield, net return and B:C ratio of rabi maize without negative influence on plant and the environment.