Abstract
An experiment was carried out to assess the economic feasibility of maize-wheat cropping system for five different fertility treatments (T1,control; T2, PGPR + PK (80-60 kg ha-1 ), T3, (120-80-60 NPK kg ha-1 ); T4, poultry manure at the rate of 15 t ha-1 , and T5, half poultry manure (7.5 t ha-1 ) + half PK (40-30 kg ha-1 ) + PGPR. According to statistical and economic analysis of the data revealed that maize plots treated with half poultry manure + half PK + PGPR gave 43% maize grain yield higher over control. Maximum wheat yield was recorded in plots previously treated poultry manure. Maize wheat cropping sequence accrued the highest net benefit of Rupees 78419.66 ha-1 than rest of the treatments. Likewise, considerable higher marginal rate of return 441.03 % was observed for maize wheat system with half poultry manure + half PK + PGPR and resulted in utmost residual value as verified through residual analysis in similar treatment. On the basis of agronomic as well as economic performance of maize it was well evident that combined use of organic, biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers proved to be more productive, sustainable and remunerative and can be recommended for maize growers to improve maize productivity and elevate their income.
