Assessment of Nutrient Expert ®-Hybrid maize model on productivity and profitability of winter maize in Terai region of eastern Nepal

Inadequate, unscientific, and lack of optimum utilization of fertilizer management devoid of site-specific nutrient management have been the significant constraints of maize (Zea mays L.) production in Nepal. Therefore, a multi-locational farmers' field was planned and executed at two VDCs of Morang district in the Terai region of Nepal from December 2015 to May 2016. Nutrient Expert (NE) and Farmer's Fertilizer Practices (FFP) treatments were imposed in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with twenty replications. The research explored highly significant results in terms of plant number m−2, cob numbers m−2, cob length, kernel rows cob−1, kernels kernel row−1, test weight, grain, stover, and biological yields and harvest index. NE showed the highest yield (8.06 tons ha -1) among the two treatments tested than FFP (4.52 tons ha −1). While comparing net revenue, NE-based fertilizer recommendation gave the significantly higher (NRs.151.116 thousand ha −1 equivalent to $1281 ha −1) result than FFP (NRs.84.834 thousand ha−1 equivalents to $707). The result suggests adopting NE practices to minimize the yield gaps and increase the productivity of maize in Morang and adjoining agro-climatic conditions of eastern Terai, Nepal