Effect of different levels of phosphorus and zinc on yield and nutrients uptake of maize (Zea mays) with and without irrigation

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) season of 1994 and 1995 at New Delhi, to study the response of maize (Zea mays L.) to different levels of phosphorus and zinc with and without irrigation. An application of 90 kg P2O5/ha resulted in significantly more grain and straw yields, nutrients uptake and protein yield, compared with 60, 30 and 0 kg P2O5/ha. Significantly higher grain and straw yields, nutrients uptake and protein yield of maize were obtained with 30 kg ZnSO4/ha than 15 kg ZnSO4/ha. Irrigation significantly increased the yields and quality parameters over no irrigation during both the years.