AGRO-MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR BOOSTING YIELD AND QUALITY OF HYBRID MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Agro-management practices for boosting yield and quality of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) were studied at the Agronomic Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The study consisted of two field experiments. The first experiment comprised of two zinc levels i.e. control ( no zinc application), zinc at the rate of 15 kg ha -1 ; two intercropping levels i.e. maize alone, maize + 2 rows of green gram and four nitrogen levels i.e. control ( no nitrogen application), 150, 200 and 250 kg N ha -1 . In second experiment the effect of boron i.e. control, boron (as boric acid) at the rate of 6 kg ha -1 : intercropping green gram i.e. maize alone, maize + 2 rows of green gram and four combined organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen i.e. control (no nitrogen application), 50% N from urea + 25% N from farm yard manure + 25% N from poultry manure, 25% N from urea + 50% N from farm yard manure + 25% N from poultry manure and, 25% N from urea + 25% N from farm yard manure + 50 % N from poultry manure was evaluated on growth and yield of maize. Both the experiments were laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split-split plot arrangement each with three replications. Data on different growth and yield parameters of maize and green gram was recorded using standard procedures and was analyzed by appropriate statistical techniques. The objectives of this study were to identify an effective and low cost N level for maize hybrid when intercropped with green gram, to compare the economic feasibility of maize hybrid alone and intercropped with green gram and with combined use of organic and inorganic sources of N, to study the effect of N, intercropping green gram, Zn and their interaction on the maize crop performance and to study the role of N, Zn and B for augmenting productivity and quality of maize hybrid. Result of the study revealed that maximum grain rows per cob (16.10), grains per cob (524), grain weight per cob (66.67g), 1000-grain weight (301g), grain yield (6.89 t ha -1 ), oil contents (4.46%), protein contents (9.18 %), ccompetition functions (relative crowding co- efficient, aggressivity value, competition ratio), agronomic advantages (maize grain yield equivalent, land equivalent ratio, area time equivalent ratio) and net income (Rs.151580) and BCR (2.70) were observed in Zn 1 I 1 N 3 (15 kg Zn ha -1 + 250 kg N ha -1 in maize intercropped with 2 rows of green gram) which was statistically at par with Zn 1 I 1 N 2 (15kg Zn ha -1 + 200 kg N ha -1 in maize intercropped with 2 rows of green gram). xxIn second experiment, results illustrated that maximum grains rows per cob (16.30) grains per cob (545.33), grain weight per cob (67.67g), 1000-grain weight (275.67g), grain yield (5.83 t ha -1 ), oil content (4.51%), protein content (8.36%), net income (Rs.124238 ha -1 ) agronomic advantages (maize grain yield equivalent, land equivalent ratio, area time equivalent ratio) and BCR (2.55) were observed in B 1 I 1 N 1 (6 kg B ha -1 + 50 % N (Urea) + 25 % N (FYM) + 25 % N (PM) in maize intercropped with green gram). These studied concluded that application of Zn and B along with nitrogen enhanced the yield of hybrid maize. Moreover different organic sources as farm yard manure, poultry manure and intercropping of green gram was useful in not only reducing reliance upon synthetic sources of nitrogen fertilizer but also helped in reducing the net costs.