Effect of Nutrient Management Approaches on Performance of Quality Protein Maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrids at Varying Plant Densities
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Date
2018
Authors
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Publisher
MPUAT, Udaipur
Abstract
Effect of Nutrient Management Approaches on Performance of Quality Protein Maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrids at Varying Plant Densities”
Bahadur Singh* Dr. S.L.Mundra**
Researcher Scholar Major Advisor
ABSTRACT
An experiment entitled “Effect of Nutrient Management Approaches on Performance of Quality Protein Maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrids at Varying Plant Densities” was
conducted on clay loam soils having medium fertility status (269.0, 270.5 kg N and 19.0, 19.2 kg P2O5 ha-1) but high in available potassium (298.5 and 300.8 kg K2O ha-1) at Instruction
Farm, Department of Agronomy, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur during two consecutive kharif season of 2014 and 2015 with the objective to select most suitable nutrient
management approach for QPM hybrids under varying crop geometry. The experiment consisted of 16 treatment combinations comprising two hybrids (HQPM-1 and Pratap QPM
hybrid-1), two plant densities [normal (60cm x 20 cm) and high (50cm x 20 cm) density] and four nutrient management approaches (RDF, SSNM, STCR and Green Seeker approach)
were evaluated under split plot design with 4 replications keeping density and QPM hybrids in main plot and nutrient management approaches in sub plots.
The results on pooled basis revealed that between two hybrids, “HQPM-1” produced significantly taller plants over “Pratap QPM hybrid-1” at all the successive growth stages.
Likewise, dry matter accumulation, CGR, RGR and NAR at different stages/duration and stem girth at harvest of “HQPM-1” was significantly higher over Pratap QPM hybrid-1.
Hybrid under test did not show any variation in plant population at 25 DAS and at harvest as well as leaf area index between successive durations. HQPM-1” delayed in 50 % tasseling
and silking compared to “Pratap QPM hybrid-1”, however, days to maturity in both of hybrids was statistically similar. Amongst yield attributing characters viz number of grains cob-1,
grains rows cob-1, grains row-1, grain weight cob-1, cob weight and test weight recorded under “HQPM-1” were significantly higher over Pratap QPM hybrid-1 reflecting the highest
grain, stover and biological yield. Barren cobs ha-1, cobs plant-1, cob length, cob girth, shelling per cent and harvest index did not show significant variation in both of the hybrids under
test. Likewise, N and P content, their uptake by plant at 50 DAS, their content in grain and stover at harvest and total uptake were significantly higher under “HQPM-1”. In terms of
other quality parameters viz. chlorophyll content at 25 and 50 DAS and protein content in grain of “HQPM-1” proved superior over Pratap QPM hybrid-1. On pooled basis the plots
with HQPM-1 and Pratap QPM hybrid-1 had failed to record perceptible variation in N, P and K status of soil before sowing , 50 DAS and after harvest. However, P status of soil at 50
DAS was recoded higher in “HQPM-1” plots as compared to “Pratap QPM hybrid-1”. The highest net return
(` 42207 ha-1) and B C ratio (1.78) were realized with growing of “HQPM-1” indicating a net gain of ` 6366 ha-1 with B C ratio 0.27 over “Pratap QPM Hybrid-1”
Plant population recorded under high density was significantly higher over normal density planting at 25 DAS and at harvest. The highest plant height was recorded under high
plant density at various successive growth stages compared to normal plant density. The results indicated that plant density of 83,333 ha-1 has produced maximum dry mater at
* Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Agronomy, RCA, MPUAT, Udaipur
** Professor, Department of Agronomy, RCA, MPUAT, Udaipur
successive stages, and CGR, RGR and NAR between successive durations and stem girth at harvest compared to 1, 00,000 plant ha-1. However, plant densities failed to record a
significant variation in days to 50 per cent tasseling and silking, days to maturity and LAI at 25, 50 and 75 DAS. The results reveal that normal plant density produced maximum cobs
plant-1, cob length, cob weight, grain weight and test weigh of maize hybrid over high density. However, high plant density produced maximum grain (46.03 q ha-1), stover (68.55 q ha-
1), biological yield (114.58 q ha-1) and shelling per cent (79.83 %) on pooled basis. The plant densities failed to record a significant variation in remaining yield attributes i.e. barren
cobs ha-1, number of grains row-1, number of rows cob-1, number of grains
cob-1 and harvest index. Increase in plant density from 83,333 to 1,00,000 ha-1 significantly reduced chlorophyll content at 25 and 50 DAS, N, P and protein content of grain and plant.
However, increase in plant density from 83,333 to 1,00,000 plants ha-1 significantly increase N and P uptake by plants at 50 DAS. Plant densities recorded a significant variation in N
and P uptake by stover. The N, P and K retained in soil with 83,333 and 1,00,000 plants ha-1 failed to record a significant variation before sowing of crop. While, at 50 DAS and after
harvest N, P and K retained in soil decreased with increased plant densities. Increase in plant density from 83,333 to 1,00,000 plants ha-1 significantly increased net return by ` 4082 ha-1
and B C ratio by 0.16.
Application of STCR based nutrient approach recorded the highest plant height at successive growth stages over rest of the approaches. STCR approach recorded significantly
higher dry matter accumulation, LAI at 50 and 75 DAS, CGR and NAR between 25-50 and 50-75 DAS, RGR between 50-75 DAS and stem girth at harvest over SSNM, RDF and
Green seeker approaches. However, LAI at 25 DAS and RGR between 25-50 DAS was statistically at par with SSNM approach. Enriching fertility with STCR based nutrient approach
significantly delayed days to maturity (5.57 days) over Green seeker approach. All the yield attributing parameters improved significantly under STCR approach which was closely
followed by SSNM and this treatment was found superior over RDF and Green seeker in this respect except number of rows cob-1. Grain (50.75 q ha-1), stover (76.52 q ha-1) and
biological yield (127.27 q ha-1) was also recorded maximum under STCR based approach over other nutrient management approaches. Nutrient management approaches failed to record
a significant variation in plant population at 25 DAS and at harvest and harvest index. Chlorophyll content at 50 DAS, protein content in grain, nutrient content (N and P) and their
uptake (N and P) by grain and plant and total uptake was higher under STCR based nutrient management approach over rest of nutrient management approaches. Chlorophyll content at
25 DAS (1.92 mg g-1) was higher under Green seeker approach. Available N, P and K were recorded maximum under STCR approach at 50 DAS and after harvest, however, failed to
record a significant difference before sowing of crop. Application of STCR based fertility proved economically beneficial which recorded net return of ` 47295 ha-1 and B C ratio of
Description
Nutrient Management, Approaches, Performance of Quality Protein Maize
Keywords
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Citation
Singh, B. and Mundra, S.L.