Table 13 Description of agronomic practices followed for each treatment.

T1

Farmers’ practice (FP)

Deep ploughing during summer by a tractor followed by 2–3 passes of harrow either tractor or bullock drawn. Maize seeds drilled by bullock drawn drills manually at 60cm row to row and intra-row spacing varies from 10 to 30cm at 5-6cm depth. Seeds germinate by soil moisture retained due to preceding rains. No soil covered with crop residue may subject runoff, soil moisture loss through evaporation, top dressed nitrogen subject vitalization. Weed menace due to sufficient radiation and moisture. Farmers’ practice is devoid of recommended RTM, INM, IWM and IPM. And in place, farmers adopted practice for nutrient supply, weed and pest control were adopted

T2

Ecological intensification (EI)

EI treatment includes all best management practices (BMP) such as minimum tillage at the time of sowing, only to the extent of opening shallow furrows at a depth of 10 cm using tractor operated seed-cum-fertilizer drill and planting of maize at 60 cm × 20 cm with recommended quantity of FYM (7.5 t/ha) which was applied to field two weeks before planting. Recommended dose of fertilizers (150:65:65 kg N, P₂O₅ and K₂O ha⁻¹, respectively were placed in furrows opened at 5 cm away from the crop row and covered with soil. Application of bio-fortified zinc and iron each @15 kg/ha was made at the time of sowing. Soil mulching with one third of maize and chickpea crops residue @ 5.0 t/ha). Half of the required nitrogen and full doses of phosphorous and potash were placed below the seed in opened furrows at the time of sowing. The remaining nitrogen was top dressed in two equal splits, first at knee-high stage and second dose corresponding to tasseling stage. Weeds were managed by post-emergence application tembotrione 120 g a.i./ha at 25 days after sowing (DAS). Protective irrigation was provided to crop at flowering stage during first year as there was long dry spell. Subsequent two years there was sufficient soil moisture due to excess rain. Fall armyworm and Turcicum leaf blight are the major pest of maize in the tropics. Crop mmanagement operations were done as per the recommended package of practices such as RTM, RPM RIM, IWM and IPM

T3

EI-recommended tillage management (RTM)

It was exclusion of RTM and inclusion of all other EI practice. However, it included farmers’ adopted tillage having deep ploughing during summer by a tractor followed by 2–3 passes of harrow either tractor drawn, or bullock drawn. Sowing by marking the rows with a manual seed drill. Inter-cultivation at 30 and 40 DAS

T4

EI-integrated nutrient management (INM)

Exclusion of INM practice and inclusion of all other EI practices. However, it includes farmers adopted nutrient practices such as application of 1.25 kg DAP at sowing and top dressing of 300kg urea in two equal splits at 30 and 50 DAS. It accounts for 138 kg nitrogen and 42 kg phosphorus with no potassium application

T5

EI-recommended planting density management (RPM)

Exclusion of RPM and inclusion of other EI practice. farmers’ adopted planting spacing (60 cm row and intra-row is not maintained) and no thinning and gap filling practices

T6

EI-recommended irrigation management (RIM)

Exclusion of RIM and inclusion of other EI practice. farmers’ adopted soil moisture by growing under rainfed situation

T7

EI-integrated weed management (IWM)

Exclusion of IWM and inclusion of other EI practice. For weed control, one hand weeding and one inter-cultivation is practiced which is followed by farmers

T8

EI-integrated pest management (IPM)

Exclusion of IPM and inclusion of other EI practice. One spray of insecticide and fungicide was done at 30 DAS and 60 DAS for control of Fall armyworm and Turcicum leaf blight respectively