Nutrient Status of Maize Growing Areas in Chittoor District of A.P

Maize has high production potential when compared to any other cereal crop. The productivity of maize is largely dependent on its nutrient management. The crop has high genetic yield potential hence; it is called miracle crop and Queen of cereals . In Andhra Pradesh, though maize is predominantly grown in kharif, irrigated maize is gaining popularity in view of higher productivity. Maize (Zea mays L.) is a heavy feeder of nutrients. Soil test based fertilizer application is still a rare practice in this area. Hence, there is a wide variation in fertilizer application by farmers. This leads to either excess or deficiency of the nutrients which might result in nutrient imbalances in the soil. As a consequence the maize yield islower than the actual yield potential. To stabilize the yields and economy of maize production, balanced nutrition is essential.The uptake of nutrients by a maize crop producing 5 t ha-1 of grain yield was estimated around 105 kg N, 50 kg P2O5 and 75 kg K2Okg ha-1. Keeping the above aspects, Nutrient status of soils in maize growing areas inChittoor district of Andhra Pradesh was undertaken.