Anshul Sharma, Arvind Verma, S.K. Intodia, J. Choudhary, Amit Trivedi, R.K. Sharma and P.B. Singh
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2024 and 2025 at the Organic Farming Unit, Plot No. D4a, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur, to evaluate the effect of silica with vermicompost on plant height and dry matter accumulation of maize under organic farming conditions. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with three replications. The treatments consisted of three levels of vermicompost, soil application and foliar application of active silica. Maize variety PHM 6 was used as the test crop. Observations on plant height and dry matter accumulation were recorded at 30, 60 DAS and at harvest, the data were analyzed statistically to assess treatment effects. The results indicated that plant height and dry matter accumulation of maize were significantly influenced by vermicompost and silica application. Among vermicompost treatments, application of vermicompost @ 5.0 t ha-1 recorded the highest plant height at 60 DAS (161.29 cm) and harvest (218.29 cm) and dry matter accumulation at 30 DAS (11.11 g plant-1), 60 DAS (83.60 g plant-1) and harvest (183.37 g plant-1), which remained statistically at par with 2.5 t ha-1 and significantly superior to the control. Soil application of silica @ 200 kg ha-1 produced taller plants at 60 DAS (160.14 cm) and harvest (213.60 cm) and higher dry matter accumulation 30 DAS (10.74 g plant-1), 60 DAS (83.54 g plant-1) and harvest (180.91 g plant-1), remaining at par with 100 kg ha-1. Similarly, foliar application of silica @ 2% recorded the maximum plant height at 60 DAS (159.61 cm) and harvest (213.96 cm) and dry matter accumulation at 60 DAS (83.41g plant-1) and at harvest (180.66 g plant -1), which was statistically comparable with 1% spray but superior to the control. Overall, the use of higher levels of vermicompost and silica proved effective in improving plant growth and dry matter production of maize under organic farming conditions.