EVALUATING THE RESPONSE OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) HYBRIDS TO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NITROGEN UNDER AGRO CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF ISLAMABAD
MUHAMMAD IMRAN
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
AMJED ALI
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
SALMAN SALEEM
Maize Sorghum and Millet Program, National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad.
MUHAMMAD ADNAN *
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
MUHAMMAD ASIF
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
MUHAMMAD MOHSIN ALI
Agricultural Engineering Institute, National Agricultural Research Center Islamabad.
MUHAMMAD AWAIS BASHIR KHAN
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
MUHAMMAD SHAKEEL HANIF
Fodder Research Institute Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
ABDUL BASIT
Fodder Research Institute Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
AHMAD HUSSAIN
Fodder Research Institute Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
ABDUL JABBAR
Fodder Research Institute Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
SULEMAN RAZA
Fodder Research Institute Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A field study was carried out at NARC Islamabad using a split plot design with three replications in 2017 and 2018. We hypothesized that increasing supplemental levels of N would increase yield and yield components. Hence objective was to evaluate two maize hybrids (H) and nitrogen (N) rates on growth, yield, and yield parameters of maize. Four levels of N kg ha-1 [100 (N1), 175 (N2), N3 (250), N4 (325), and N5 (400) and three maize H [H1 (P-3939), H2 (30-T-60), and H3 (30-Y-87)] in a split plot design with three replications.
Data were analyzed using the mixed procedures of SAS. Statistical models included the individual effects of N levels and H, the interactions between N and H and random effect of the year. Yield and yield parameters were improved at 325 kg N ha-1 with significant effects on growth, yield and yield components. The results revealed that growth, yield and yield components were maximized at (P < 0.000) for NARC Islamabad at the N4 level without having an interaction with the H of maize crop. It was concluded that the selection of best H at 325 kg N ha-1 can be used to enhance the efficiency of maize yield in autumn season.
Keywords: Zea mays, agronomic characters, development, grain yield, yield components