Performance of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids under different planting methods and nitrogen levels
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Date
2016
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
CCSHAU
Abstract
A field experiment entitled, “Performance of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids under different planting methods
and nitrogen levels” was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during
kharif 2013 and 2014. The experiment consisted of four planting methods viz. Raised Bed System (RBS), Flat Sowing
with Zero Tillage (FSZT), Flat Sowing with Minimum Tillage (FSMT) and Flat Sowing with Conventional Tillage
(FSCT) in main plots and two maize hybrids viz. HQPM-1 and HQPM-5 and three nitrogen levels viz. 120, 150 and
180 kg N ha
-1
in sub plots with combination, treatments were tested in split plot design with three replications. Flat
sowing with zero tillage maize resulted in significantly higher growth and yield attributes during 2013 and 2014 crop
seasons compared to FSCT and FSMT but the difference between FSZT and RBS was not significant. Application of
180 kg nitrogen ha
-1
resulted in significantly higher grain yield, stover yield and economics of maize in both the years
as compared to 150 and 120 kg nitrogen ha
-1
. FSZT planted maize produced significantly higher grain yield of maize
i.e., 5526 kg ha
-1
during 2013 and 5016 kg ha
-1
during 2014 as compared to FSCT and FSMT but the difference
between FSZT and RBS was at par with each other. Among maize hybrids, HQPM-5 produced significantly higher
yield (5325 kg ha
-1
) during 2013 and during 2014 (5120 kg ha
-1
) over HQPM-1 maize hybrid. Application of 180 kg N
ha
-1
resulted significantly higher grain yields (5567 kg ha
-1
) during 2013 and during 2014 (5160 kg ha
-1
) as compared
to other nitrogen levels. In the both crop seasons, net returns (`43225 ha
-1
during 2013 and ` 40359 ha
-1
during 2014),
net returns `
-1
invested (2.14 during 2013 and 1.97 during 2014, respectively) and B:C (1.14 during 2013 and 0.97
during 2014, respectively) were significantly higher with FSZT compared to other planting methods. Cultivation of
maize hybrid with HQPM-5 recorded higher net returns and B:C as compared to HQPM-1 maize hybrid. Application
of 180 kg N ha
-1
had maximum values for net returns (`40166 ha
-1
during 2013 and `37623 ha
-1
during 2014), net
returns `
-1
invested (1.97 during 2013 and 1.86 during 2014, respectively) and B:C (0.97 during 2013 and 0.86 during
2014, respectively) compared to other nitrogen levels. The various planting methods failed to bring significant
difference in soil physical and chemical parameters viz. bulk density, infiltration rate, pH, electrical conductivity, ESP
and soil organic carbon. FSZT was found to be better when compared to other planting methods with respect to
nutrient content and uptake, quality parameters viz., lysine, tryptophan and protein during the two crop seasons were
appreciably higher with FSZT under HQPM-5 hybrid and 180 kg N ha
-1
. Stable starch, sugar, fat content and specific
gravity of maize were not influenced significantly by different planting methods, maize hybrids and N levels during
both the crop seasons. The treatment laid with the FSZT of 180 kg nitrogen ha
-1
and HQPM-5 maize hybrid resulted in
highest grain yield (6023 kg ha
-1
) stover yield (7910 kg ha
-1
), gross returns (` 88430 ha
-1
), net returns (` 50182 ha
-1
),
net returns `
-1
invested (2.31) and B:C (1.31) compared to other treatment combinations in 2013 and same trend was
found in 2014.
Description
Keywords
dna, Vegetables, Resins, Developmental stages, Retting, Ecosystems, Diseases, Livestock, Plant extracts, Economic systems