Effect of Organics on Growth and Morpho-physiological Characters in Maize (Zea mays l.)
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Date
2012
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Publisher
UAS, Dharwad
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted at the Main Agricultural Research Station, College
of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka during kharif 2010-
11 to study the effect of organics on growth, morpho-physiological characters, biochemical
parameters, yield and yield attributes of maize. The experiment was laid out in a randomised
block design with 14 treatments replicated thrice. Treatments include different organic
sources viz., FYM, vemicompost, sheep manure and poultry manure alone and combinations
with inorganic sources were compared with control.
The morpho-physiological characters viz., total dry matter production, plant height,
number of leaves, leaf area and physiological parameters like leaf area index and leaf area
duration were significantly higher with treatment poultry manure + 100% RDF at all the
growth stages. While, the lowest morpho-physiological characters were observed in control.
The growth indices like AGR CGR and NAR were significantly higher in the
treatment poultry manure + 100% RDF, followed by sheep manure + 100% RDF at all the
growth stages. While, lower growth indices were recorded in control. The biochemical
parameters like chlorophyll content, leaf nitrogen content and nitrate reductase activity was
higher in poultry manure + 100% RDF compared to other treatments.
Significantly the higher grain yield of maize (90.2 q ha-1) was recorded in treatment
poultry manure + 100% RDF followed by sheep manure + 100% RDF compared to other
treatments. While, lowest yield was recorded in control. Similarly, higher harvest index, test
weight and shelling percentage was recorded in poultry manure + 100% RDF, followed by
sheep manure + 100% RDF and FYM + 100% RDF. The lowest yield and yield parameter
was recorded in control. Different treatments had significant influence on economics.
Significantly the highest B:C ratio (2.69) was recorded in RDF alone, followed by poultry
manure + 100% RDF (2.55) and sheep manure + 100% RDF (2.38).