Effect of Precision Nitrogen Management through LCC on Nutrient Content and Uptake of Maize (Zea mays L.) under Temperate Conditions of Kashmir

Field experiment was conducted at Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-Kashmir, Wadura, Jammu and Kashmir during kharif seasons of 2019 and 2020 to assess the effect of precision nitrogen management through LCC on nutrient content and uptake of maize (Zea mays L.) under temperate conditions of Kashmir. The experiment comprised of three maize hybrids (SMH-2, Vivek-45 and Kanchan-517) assigned to main plots and seven Precision N management viz. nitrogen splits @ 20 and 30 kg N ha-1 managed through LCC (LCC scores of 3, 4 and 5), recommended nitrogen level and control in subplots. The treatments were replicated thrice in a split plot design. The results revealed that LCC ≤ 5 @ 30 kg N ha-1 recorded highest dry matter accumulation and periodic N uptake at all the stages of growth and highest P and K uptake by grain and straw at harvest. Further, highest dry matter accumulation and uptake of NPK was recorded in cultivar SMH-2 as compared to Vivek-45 and Kanchan-517 during 2019 and 2020 respectively. LCC based N application proved effective in increasing dry matter and nutrient content of maize hybrids.