Effect of industrial waste with different levels of nitrogen on nutrient uptake and yield of maize, Zea mays

A field experiment was conducted to study the nutrient uptake, quality and yield of maize (Co1) under paper mill sludge with inorganic fertilizers at different rates of nitrogen at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai during Rabi 2008. Based on the field experiment it was found that 75 per cent recommended nitrogen and full dose of phosphorus and potassium with paper mill sludge recorded higher nutrient uptake at different growth stages of maize viz knee-high, tasseling and harvest. Nutrient uptake was higher at harvest stage. Application of paper mill sludge with inorganic nitrogen increased the quality of maize grain significantly over absolute control. Higher yield of grain (4.9 tons/ha) and straw (9.0 tons/ha) was received in the treatment T₅ which received 75 per cent inorganic N with paper mill sludge at the rate of 5 tons/ha. The quality characters of the maize grain viz crude protein, total sugars and starch were also increased due to the application of paper mill sludge with inorganic fertilizer.