Effect of Microbial Enriched Arecahusk Compost on Growth and Yield Attributes of Maize inTypic Rhodustalfof Southern Transitional Zone of Karnataka

Currently, the majority of arecahusk waste is disposed of through combustion, leading to the loss of a potential source of organic matter and nutrient source. The value of arecanut waste as an organic material has not been fully realized so far. With this in view, an experiment was designed for arecanut husk composting at Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station, Bhavikere, during the kharif season and followed by a sequential cropping system consisting of maize followed by green gram in two consecutive years (2020–21 and 2021–22). The design includes 10 replicated treatments thrice in a fully randomized complete block design. Results indicated that application of 75% RDN with 25% RDN as Arecahusk Compost (AHC) and entire quantity of recommended dose of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) as AHC (based on N equivalent) increased the growth parameters like plant height (235.89, 265.63 cm), number of leaves (14.57, 16.61), and drymatter (394.67,428.22 g plant−1) over control which received 100% RDN and recommended dose of FYM (7.5 t/ha). Similar results were recorded for the yield attributes like cob length (20.88, 24.03 cm), cob girth (18.51, 19.86 cm), number of grains per row (37.79, 40.40), number of kernels per cob (597.14 and 608.67), root length (21.90 23.40 cm), root biomass (14.33, 15.61 q ha−1), grain yield (93.60, 95.67 q ha−1) and stover yield (110.66, 116.15 q ha−1) in both years. Growth and yield attributes were significantly correlated with grain and stover yields of maize (0.96*** to 1.00***). It was recorded 14.89% grain yield increase over control.