Effect of essential plant nutrients on growth and yield of maize crop (Zea mays L.): a review

The key indicator of soil fertility status is growth and yield parameters in most agricultural ecosystems. Among all the crops, cereals are considered the most important staple food while, among cereals, production is recorded highest for maize followed by wheat and rice globally. However, productivity was reducing gradually due to a decline in soil fertility because of the continuous use of commercial and inorganic fertilizers for a longer period in an injudicious manner. However, on the other hand, the price of inorganic fertilizers is increasing rapidly causing enhancement of the cost of cultivation mainly for small and marginal farmers. So, current investigations are trying to adopt alternative ways for increasing the productivity of crops while maintaining soil fertility and improving soil health. Integrated nutrient management (INM) is the most efficient tool for improving soil fertility status, health and crop productivity to feed the huge global ever-increasing population and ultimately push conventional agriculture towards precision nutrient management (PNM). The main aims of INM are supplying balanced nutrients using diversified sources of nutrients (organic and inorganic) and increasing the growth and yield in a sustainable way without exerting a negative impact on soil. Ultimately INM is becoming the most popular and innovative approach for agriculture in the twenty-first century considering soil as well as plant health and environment safety, which is going to proliferate more in the near future.