Effect of Organic Manures on Yield and Chemical Composition of Maize

It is well known that addition of organic manures in combination with chemical fertilizers have shown considerable increase in crop yield through their significant influence on properties of the soil and thereby on sustainable crop production. Efficacy of different bulky and concentrated organic manures viz., FYM, poultry manure, neem cake, castor cake and vermicompost etc. depends on their organic matter content, nutrient content and the C: N ratio. Maize being native of Mexico is one of the oldest and most productive cereal food crops also known as the ¿Queen of cereals¿. Increasing demand of food to feed the ever growing population along with rising cost of chemical fertilizers and depleting soil fertility due to intensive cropping system, necessitates judicious use of organic and inorganic sources of input for the crop production, which minimize the dependence on commercial sources to sustain the soil fertility as well as to meet the requirement of larger production of food grains and other agricultural commodities.