Paper Title
Agronomic Approaches To Improve Irrigated Maize Performance

Abstract
The objective of this field experiment was to study the effects of nitrogen combination with micronutrients on growth, yield attributes, yield and economics of maize. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design and it consisted of nine treatments viz., T1 - Control, T2 - 75 % Recommended Dose Nitrogen, T3 - 100 % Recommended Dose Nitrogen (135 kg ha-1), T4 - 125 % Recommended Dose Nitrogen, T5 -150 % Recommended Dose Nitrogen, T6 � 75 % RDN + Micronutrient mixture @ 25 Kg ha-1, T7 - 100 % RDN + Micronutrient mixture @ 25 Kg ha-1, T8 - 125 % RDN + Micronutrient mixture @ 25 Kg ha-1 and T9 - 150 % RDN + Micronutrient mixture @ 25 Kg ha-1 and replicated thrice. The application of inorganic fertilizer might significantly influence on the plant growth and yield components of maize. Among the integrated nutrient management practices evaluated, 150 % Recommended dose of nitrogen + micronutrient mixture @ 25 kg ha-1 (T9), resulted in the enhanced values of varied growth characters viz., plant height, leaf area index, dry matter production, yield attributes viz., cob length, cob diameter and number of grains cob-1, grain yield and stover yield. This was closely followed by the application of 125 % recommended dose of nitrogen + micronutrient mixture @ 25 kg ha-1 (T8). The results of the investigation clearly indicated the positive response of maize to the different levels of nitrogen and micronutrients. With regard to economics of treatments imposed in this investigation, the trend is something different from earlier parameters discussed due to the prohibitive cost involved in excessive application of nitrogen in T9 (150 % RDN + Micronutrient mixture @ 25 Kg ha-1) treatment. Among the treatments imposed, application of 125 % recommended dose of nitrogen + micronutrient mixture 25 kg ha-1 (T8) recorded the higher net return and return rupee-1 invested. Keywords: Maize, micronutrients, nitrogen.