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The experiment was conducted during kharif 2013 in vertisols at Agricultural Research Station, Mudhol, Karnataka to study growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) as influenced by target yield approach under irrigated situation. The results of the experiment revealed that application of nutrients to achieve target yield of 140 q ha-1 (380.8: 133.9: 88.2 kg N, P2O5, K2O ha-1) recorded significantly higher growth parameters namely plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, leaf area duration (LAD) and stem girth at different growth stages of crop. Significantly higher grain yield (128.26 q ha-1) and stover yield (150.65 q ha-1) was recorded by target yield level of 140 q ha-1. The increase in grain and stover yield by target yield level of 140 q ha-1 could be the maximum plant height (206.1, 223 and 225.3 cm at 60, 90 DAS and harvest, respectively), number of leaves per plant (9.2, 14.2, 13.3 and 6.5 at 30, 60, 90 DAS and harvest, respectively), leaf area (76.64, 68.94 and 29.48 dm 2 at 60, 90 DAS and harvest, respectively), leaf area duration (100.58, 92.56 and 42.58 between 30-60 DAS, 60-90 DAS and 90 DAS-harvest, respectively), stem girth (5.45, 6.05 and 6.67 at 30, 60 and 90 DAS, respectively), gross returns (Rs. 1,70,590 ha-1) and net returns (Rs. 1,25,104 ha-1) as compared to absolute control.

Key words: Target yield, Phenolgical stages, Growth parameters, Yield.