+The experiment was laid out in the Agronomy field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University that situated at 23.41 N latitude and 90.22 E longitude in a silty loam soil having pH -7.0, organic matter-0.87%, phosphorus-3.0 ppm and potassium-0.24 ml/100g soil. The experimental design that followed was split-plot where two varieties viz., BARI hybrid bhutta 5 (hybrid variety) - V1 and Khaibhutta (composite variety) -V2 were assigned in the main plot and five fertilizer combinations viz., 100% recommended dose of chemical fertilizer-F1, 50% chemical fertilizer + 50% Nutrismart-F2, 40% chemical fertilizer + 60% Nutrismart-F3, 25% chemical fertilizer + 75% Nutrismart-F4 and 100% Nutrismart-F5 were allocated in the sub plot. There were altogether twelve treatment combinations as V1F1, V1F2, V1F3, V1F4, V1F5, V2F1, V2F2, V2F3, V2F4 and V2F5. As per BARI the recommended dose of chemical fertilizer used for hybrid variety was 500-250-200-250-10-5 kg/ha of urea, TSP, MP, Gypsum, ZnSo4 and Boric acid respectively and for composite variety was 222-222-144-150-10-5 kg/ha of urea, TSP, MP, Gypsum, ZnSo4 and Boric acid respectively. The 100% Nutrismart dose was 600 kg/ha for hybrid variety and 400 kg/ha for composite variety. One third of urea along with full amount of other fertilizers as per treatment was applied during final land preparation as basal dose and the rest urea as per treatment was applied during final land preparation as basal dose and the rest urea as per treatment was applied in two equal installments as side dressing. The seeds of both the varieties were sown on 24 November 2007 with two seeds per hill after well preparation of land by ploughing, cross ploughing and laddering. The plot size was 4.5 X 3 m with the spacing 75 cm X 25 cm. Thinning was done on 18 December and finally single plant was maintained per hill. Three irrigations were given on 6 December, 25 December 2007 and 19 January 2008. Two weedings and earthing up were done on 18 December 2007 and 19 January 2008. The plant height was recorded from 5 randomly selected plants from each plot at 30, 60, 90 days after sowing and at harvest. The other data as number of cobs/plant, length of cob, number of grains/cob, weight of 1000 grains were collected from 10 randomly selected cobs per plot. The final yields were converted to per hectare basis. The harvest index was calculated from the grain and straw yield data. The collected data were analysed using IRRISTAT computer package program developed by IRRI. The mean differences among the treatments were compared by least significant difference (LSD) test at 5% level of significance.
1) BARI hybrid bhutta 5 gave higher cob length, weight of 1000 grains and harvest index.
2) The maximum grain yield was found in the BARI hybrid bhutta 5 and the comparatively higher stover yield in composite variety.
3) Among the interaction of variety and fertilizer combinations, the V1F1 gave the highest that followed by F2 of both varieties but the V1F2 and V1F1 gave the similar harvest index.
The composite variety khaibhutta gave similar yield with 50% chemical fertilizer + 50% Nutrismart combination compared to that of 100% chemical fertilizer but in case of hybrid variety 50 to 60% reduction of chemical fertilizer by Nutrismart reduced grain yield by 10.18 to 17.10%.