Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy farm of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar during 2008-2009 and 2009-10 on silty clay loam soil with neutral PH. The experiment comprising of three factors viz., cropping sequences S₁ , S₂, S₃ and S₄, three farm yard manure (FYM) rates R₁ , R₂ and R₃ and three frequencies F₁, F₂ and F₃ was laid out in a split plot design (cropping sequences in main plot and FYM rates and frequencies in sub plot) replicated thrice. The results showed that during 2009-10, the cropping sequences S₁ and S₄ recorded significantly higher growth characters, yield attributes and yield of maize than S₂ and S₃. the FYM rates increased the growth characters up to 30t ha⁻¹ and yield attributes up to 20t ha⁻¹. the grain yield of maize showed significant improvement with FYM application up to 20t ha⁻¹ while stover yield increased significantly up to 30 t ha⁻¹ FYM frequencies F₁ and F₂ recorded significantly higher growth characters, yield attributes and grain and stover yield of maize over F₃. Highest net returns and benefit cost ratio were realized from the treatment combination S₂R₁F₁.

Key words: Maize, cropping sequence, farm yard manure (FYM), frequency