PRODUCTION POTENTIAL OF SPRING MAIZE (Zea mays L.) UNDER VARIOUS AGRO- MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Abstract

Two experiments to see the effects of levels of NPK fertilizers, plant density and sowing methods on the growth and yield of hybrid maize were carried out at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan during spring 2006 and 2007. In experiment-1, three fertilizer levels 200-100-100, 250-125-125 and 300-150-150 NPK kg ha-1 and three planting densities 45 x 20 cm, 60 x 20 cm and 75 x 20 cm were used. Maximum grain yield (8.56 t ha-1 and 9.12 t ha-1 in 2006 and 2007, respectively) was recorded in T6 treatment, when fertilizer was applied at the rate of 250- 125-125 NPK kg ha-1 and the crop was sown at spacing of 75 x 20 cm. Significantly higher values of physiological traits viz. harvest index, LAI and CGR in 2006 and 2007, respectively were observed with the same application of fertilizer and plant density as mentioned in grain yield. While, more values of NAR were recorded in T9 treatment when NPK level was 300-150-150 kg ha-1 and crop was sown at 75 x 20 cm in both years. Higher seed oil content (%) was recorded in F1 treatment (200-100-100 NPK kg ha-1, while maximum seed protein content (%) and seed starch content (%) were observed in F3 (300-150-150 NPK kg ha-1) and were not affected significantly by plant density in both the years. In experiment-2, four levels of NPK (0-0-0, 200-100-100, 250-125-125 and 300-150-150 NPK kg ha-1) and three sowing methods (flat sowing 75 cm apart rows, ridge sowing 75 cm apart ridges and bed sowing 120/30 cm apart beds) were compared. Higher grain yield (10.02 t ha-1 and 10.54 t ha-1 in both years) was recorded in T8 treatment where fertilizer level was 250-125-125 NPK kg ha-1 and maize was planted on 75 cm apart ridges. All grain yield contributing components were higher at this level of NPK and sowing method. All the physiological traits were significantly affected by different rates of NPK. Sowing methods, however, did not affect the HI (%) and CGR (g m-2 day-1), while significantly affected the LAI and NAR (g m-2 day-1). Higher values of HI were observed at 250-125-125 NPK kg ha-1, those of LAI, CGR and NAR were obtained at 300-150-150 NPK kg ha-1, respectively during 2006 and 2007. Higher seed oil content (%) was recorded in F1 treatment (200-100-100 NPK kg ha-1, while maximum seed protein content (%) and seed starch content (%) were observed in F3 (300-150-150 NPK kg ha-1) and were not affected significantly by sowing methods in both the years.