Section 3 (Crop Management)

Proceedings of the 8 th Asian Regional Maize Workshop, Bangkok, Thailand: August 5-8, 2002
Fertilizer Management Research in Maize in the Eastern Hills of Nepal
R.B. Katuwal
Nepal Agricultural Research Council
Agricultural Research Station
Pakhribas, Dhankuta, Nepal
Abstract
Decreased soil fertility, unbalanced use of organic and inorganic fertilizers, low adoption and
adaptation of recommended dose of chemical fertilizers and less awareness of the application of fertilizers
and management of soil fertility were the major problems in the mid hills of Nepal. A study on fertilizer
management was carried out at mid altitude outreach research sites namely, Fakchamara and Belhara of
Terhathum and Dhankuta districts respectively. The experiments were conducted in 2000 and 2001. The
overall objective of these experiments was to identify the essential plant nutrients limiting maize yield
and to determine the appropriate time of urea (nitrogen) application to achieve maximum maize
production. Two trials were carried out. These were limiting plant nutrients on maize under maize/millet
system and synchronizing nitrogen availability by split application on maize in the year 2000 and 2001.
Two year’s results indicated that nitrogen was the most crucial and essential nutrients among the major
plant nutrients for better maize production. The application of agri-lime (5 t/ha) in acidic soils showed
encouraging effect on grain yield of maize, both years, in both sites, there was significant (P