AICRP on Maize Research: Salient Achievements and Future Research Directions in Nutrient Management Research

Abstract

The maize improvement programme of India has been very dynamic and various breeding and agronomic strategies have been adopted during last six decades and have triggered the maize production and productivity. Maize was traditionally grown as a subsistence crop in rainfed ecologies till 2000 and hence large management yield gaps exists in which large proportion was contributed by imbalance and inappropriate nutrition management. After adoption of hybrids at farmers’ field there is need to change nutrient management in maize substantially due to higher yield potential. Agronomic trials under AICRP conducted at both research station and on-farm, led to the improvised nutrient recommendations for different maize regions in order to harness the yield potential of hybrids. Balanced and adequate fertilization in maize systems is the key for enhancing and sustaining higher maize productivity and profitability using all available organic and inorganic sources with proper crop rotations and timing of application. In addition, precision input management and conservation agriculture technologies would lead to profitable and ecologically sustainable maize-based farming systems in future.