scholarly journals Effect of Plant Density on Growth and Yield of Maize [Zea mays (L.)] Hybrids at Luyengo, Middleveld of Eswatini

Author(s):  
Ndzimandze Sibonginkosi ◽  
Mabuza Mzwandile ◽  
Tana Tamado

Maize is staple food and the most cultivated crop in Eswatini. However, its yield is very low partly due to use of non-optimum plant density for different maturity group maize varieties. Thus, an experiment was conducted at Luyengo, Middleveld of Eswatini during the 2018/2019 cropping season. The experiment consisted of factorial combinations of two varieties [SC 403 (early maturing) and PAN 53 (medium maturing)] and three plant densities (44444 plants/ha, 50000 plants/ha, 57143 plants/ha) in randomised complete block design in three replications. Results showed that medium maturing maize variety PAN 53 had higher leaf area, leaf area index, plant height, cob height (139.4 cm), days to 90% anthesis (69 days), dry biomass, thousand kernels mass (374.0 g), grain yield (43.1 t/ha), and stover mass (59.8 t/ha) than the early maturing variety SC 403. With respect to the effect of plant density, as the plant density increased from 44444 to 57143 plants/ha, leaf area, dry biomass at V12 and R5 growth stages, number of cobs per plant, grain yield, stover mass, and thousand kernels mass (g) were decreased while the leaf area index was increased. The interaction effects of variety and plant density were not significant on all the parameters recorded. Thus, it can be concluded that medium maturing variety PAN 53 and plant density of 44444 plants/ha (90 cm ´ 25 cm) are best options to maximum productivity of maize in the study area. However, it is recommended that the experiment be repeated with inclusion of more varieties and densities to reach at more conclusive recommendation.

Author(s):  
I. Audu ◽  
R. Idris

A field experiment to study the growth and yield stability of maize varieties (Zea mays L.) to different rates of nitrogen fertilizer and cow dung in Mubi Adamawa State, Nigeria was conducted in 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons at the Food and Agricultural Organization/Tree crops Plantation (FAO/TCP) Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Adamawa State University Mubi. Two maize varieties; viz. Quality Protein Maize (QPM) and Extra Early White (EEW) were selected for sowing. They were assigned to the main plots and nitrogen with cow dung assigned to the subplots in a factorial combination with nitrogen at the rates of 0, 60 and 120 kg N ha-1 and cow dung at 0, 1- and 2-ton ha-1 in split plot design. Data were collected on plant height, leaf area per plant, leaf area index and grain yield per hectare. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and treatment means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test. The result showed that EEW had the highest plant height (190.77 cm), higher leaf area per plant (535.6 cm2) and leaf area index (0.40 cm) than QPM. The effect of nitrogen fertilizer on the growth and yield parameters increased as the nitrogen fertilizer was increased. 120kg N ha-1 gave the highest plant height (195.68 cm) and grain yield (5658.3 kg). The control plot produced the least; 164.77 cm (plant height) and 2662.50 kg ha-1 (grain yield). Application of 1ton ha-1 cow dung exhibited the highest plant height, (95.00 cm), leaf area per plant (518.91 cm2) and leaf area index (0.37 cm). There was an interaction of variety with nitrogen on plant height and grain yield. High interaction of variety with cow dung on plant height and leaf area per plant was recorded. There was an interaction of nitrogen with cow dung on plant height, leaf area per plant and leaf area index. However, there was an interaction of variety with nitrogen and cow dung on plant height, leaf area per plant and leaf area index. Application of 120 kg N ha-1 significantly increased the yield of QPM maize along with 2-ton ha-1 of cow dung.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-55
Author(s):  
Ramhari Gaire ◽  
Chudamani Pant ◽  
Nischal Sapkota ◽  
Rajan Dhamaniya ◽  
Tej Narayan Bhusal

AbstractA field experiment was carried out to study the effect of spacing and nitrogen level on growth and yield of maize in Parbat from February to July, 2019. The experiment was laid out in two Factorial Randomized complete Block Design (RCBD) comprising of spacing: 60×15 cm and 60×25 cm and nitrogen: 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg/ha level as treatment with three replications. “Arun-2” variety of maize was planted on clay loam and acidic soil (pH 5.3) having medium in total nitrogen (0.15%), medium in soil available phosphorus (48.1 kg/ha), medium in soil available potassium (218.8 kg/ha) and medium in organic matter content (2.92%). Result shows that yield was significantly increased with increment in N-level up to 90 kg N/ha. The grain yield (5.18 mt/ha) was significantly higher at 90 kg N/ha than at 30 and 60 kg N/ha but at par with 120 kg N/ha. Significant effect on grain yield due to spacing was observed. The grain yield (4.11 mt/ha) obtained at spacing 60×15 cm. Moreover, the highest grain yield showed that highest grain yield (4.33 mt/ha) was obtained under 90 kg N/ha plus 60×15 cm spacing. The result revealed that different spacing and nitrogen level significantly affect the plant height and leaf area index. The plant height and leaf area index were significantly high at close spacing (60×15 cm) and at 120 kg N/ha. Likewise, yield attributing characteristics like cob length, cob diameter, number of kernel/rows, number of kernel row, thousand gran weight were the highest at 90 kg/ha but as par with 120 kg/ha at close spacing (60×15 cm). This study suggested that maize production can be maximized by cultivating “Arun-2” maize fertilizing with 90 kg N/ha and maintaining 60×15 cm spacing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (01) ◽  
pp. 43-51
Author(s):  
Qinglong Yang

To better understand the accumulation and transport of substances under different planting densities, the adaptation of maize root and leaf in response to increasing planting densities was investigated. In this two-year filed study, three maize varieties, Fumin108 (FM), Xianyu335 (XY) and Dika159 (DK), were sown under three different planting densities: 15,000 (D1), 60,000 (D2) and 90,000 plants ha-1 (D3) during 2018 and 2019. Increase in planting density gradually increased leaf area index along with reduced leaf area and net photosynthetic rate of individual leaves. In the 0–20 cm soil layer, the average root dry matter decreased by 55.88 and 80.92%, and the average root number decreased by 31.18 and 38.71% under D2 and D3, respectively, compared with D1. With increase in planting density, yield and dry matter per plant of maize gradually decreased while yield and dry matter per ha was increased with increase in D1-D2 density and then flattened in D2-D3 density. Compared with D1, two-year average yield per plant was decreased by 34.10 and 51.87% under D2 and D3, respectively. The difference in the number of roots of XY, FM and DK were not significant, so change in variety did not alleviate the decrease in the number of roots. At higher planting densities (above D2), the increase in density did not increase per ha grain yield. In conclusion, the suitable plant density was about 60,000 plants ha-1 to harvest more yield of spring maize while density higher than that reduced leaf area and photosynthesis per plant. Moreover, leaf area, root number and net photosynthesis per plant was higher in lower planting density coupled with overall less yield on ha basis and thus seemed wastage of soil nutrients and light resources. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers


Author(s):  
Abiyot Abeje ◽  
Getachew Alemayehu ◽  
Tesfaye Feyisa

Background: The productivity of soybean in Assosa Zone particularly in Assosa and Bambassi districts is very low due to poor soil fertility management practices which resulted in severe soil acidity and low N-fixing inoculant in the soil. Hence, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of biofertilizer and inorganic fertilizers on nodulation, growth and yield of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]. Methods: During the period 2019-2020 factorial combinations of four levels of biofertilizer inoculants [without inoculant (B1), SB12 inoculant (B2), MAR1495 inoculant (B3) and SB12 plus MAR1495 inoculants (B4); and four inorganic fertilizer types NP (F1), NPS (F2), NPB (F3) and NPSB (F4) at their recommended rates for soybean] were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in Assosa and Bambassi districts, Assosa Zone, Western Ethiopia. Number of effective nodules per plant, leaf area index and grain yield were collected following the standard procedures and were analyzed using SAS software version 9.1.3 and significant mean differences were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) at 5% significance level. Result: Number of effective nodules per plant, leaf area index and grain yield were highly significantly (P less than 0.01) affected by the interactions of biofertilizer and inorganic fertilizers at both locations and years. Thus, the maximum grain yield (2621.67 kg) was obtained from (SB12+MAR1495) + NPSB at Assosa and the maximum grain yield (2460.20 kg) was obtained from SB12+NPS at Bambassi. Hence, (SB12+MAR1495) + NPSB and SB12+NPS are recommended for higher soybean grain yield for Assosa and Bambassi districts and similar agro-ecologies, respectively.


1972 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. MAJOR ◽  
R. B. HUNTER ◽  
L. W. KANNENBERG ◽  
T. B. DAYNARD ◽  
J. W. TANNER

Grain yield of 44 single crosses and their component inbreds of corn (Zea mays L.) was determined over a wide range of plant populations. Yield was determined for inbreds and single cross hybrids at unit intervals of leaf area index (LAI) of 1–4. Mean inbred yield was no greater than 60% of the mean hybrid yield, regardless of whether yields were compared at a common plant density or LAI. Optimum LAI (LAI where grain yield was at its maximum) was higher for the hybrids than for the inbreds.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 594-602
Author(s):  
L. Rana ◽  
◽  
H. Banerjee ◽  
D. Mazumdar ◽  
S. Sarkar ◽  
...  

The field experiments were conducted at farmer’s field, Madandanga village under Chakdaha Block of Nadia district in West Bengal during rabi season 2014-15 and 2015-16. Treatments were distributed in split-factorial design, with three varieties (P ‘3533’, P ‘3396’, P ‘30V92’) in the main plot and three planting density (55,555, 66,666, 83,333 plants ha-1) × three sowing dates (November 20, November 30, December 10) combinations in the sub-plots, replicated thrice. Irrespective of planting density and sowing date, the variety ‘P30V92’ produced the highest yield, followed by ‘P3396’ and ‘P3533’. The significantly highest grain and stover yield was obtained in high density planting (83,333 plants ha-1), accounting 44.2 and 39.6% more than low planting density (55,555 plants ha-1), respectively. The maximum grain and stover yields were obtained from Nov. 20 sown plants; being 7.71 and 11.95% more than the grain yield derived from late sown (Dec. 10) plants. A correlation study showed that among the growth and yield components, leaf area index (0.96) and shelling percentage (0.91) exhibited highly positive direct effects on the grain yield of hybrid maize. However, other growth attributes, namely P uptake (0.88), K uptake (0.86) and plant height (0.81) exerted comparatively low positive direct effects on the grain yield of hybrid maize. Further, the standard regression equation revealed a significant relationship of shelling percentage (p≤0.01), leaf area index (p≤0.01) and uptake of P (p≤0.05) with grain yield.


Author(s):  
Amanullah , ◽  
Inamullah , ◽  
Zahir Shah ◽  
Shad Khan Khalil

Leaf area index (LAI) is a measure of leafiness per unit ground area and denotes the extent of photosynthetic machinery is an important growth and yield-determining factor because it is a major determinant of light interception and transpiration. Phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) and rate are the most important factors affecting leaf area index (LAI) of rice(<em>Oryza sativa</em> L.). A field experiment was conducted to assess the impact of phosphorus (0, 40, 80, 120 kg P ha<sup>-1</sup>) and zinc levels (0, 5, 10, 15 kg Zn ha<sup>-1</sup>) on LAI of rice (<em>Oryza sativa</em> L.) genotypes [fine (Basmati-385) and coarse (Fakhr-e-Malakand &amp; Pukhraj)]. The experiment was conducted on farmer field at Batkhela, Malakadnd in Northwest Pakistan during summer 2011 and 2012. When combined over the two years, the data revealed that the highest LAI at three different growth stages (tillering, heading and physiological maturity) was obtained with application of the highest P level (120 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>) being at par with 80 kg P ha<sup>-1</sup>, while the lowest LAI was recorded when P was not applied. Similarly, the highest LAI was obtained with application of the two higher Zn levels (10 and 15 kg Zn ha<sup>-1</sup>), while the lowest LAI was recorded when Zn was not applied. In case of rice genotypes, the highest LAI was obtained from Pukhraj than other two genotypes at all growth stages. The other two rice genotypes (Fakher-e-Malakand and Basmati-385) produced statistically similar LAI at different growth stages. The higher LAI of Pukhraj was attributed to its long and wider leaves that resulted in higher mean single leaf area, leaf area per tiller, per hill and per square meter. The LAI was highest at heading stages than at early (tillering) and later (physiological maturity) growth stages. The increase in LAI was attributed to the increase in tillers number and leaf area hill<sup>-1</sup>. The increase in LAI showed positive impact on crop growth rate, dry matter accumulationand yield. Application of 120 kg P + 10 kg Zn ha<sup>-1</sup> to rice genotype Pukhraj was more beneficial in terms of higher LAI and productivity in the study area.


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-36
Author(s):  
FB Putul ◽  
AR Khan ◽  
MS Hossain ◽  
A Mahmud ◽  
QA Khaliq ◽  
...  

The experiment was carried out at the research field of the Department of Agronomy of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur during December 2016 to April 2017 to investigate the effect of different phosphorus levels (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P ha-1) on the growth and yield of four selected cowpea genotypes (BARI Felon-1, A-06008, VI046192 and VI034386). The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. The results indicated that, among the genotype, BARI Felon-1  required minimum days to 1st (96 DAS) and 50% flowering (108 DAS) showing the highest absolute growth rate (0.71 g day-1), crop growth rate (23.69 g m-2 day-1), relative growth rate (0.047 g g-1 day-1), net assimilation rate (1.40 g m-2 day-1), leaf area index (6.68), SPAD value (51.03), seed length (0.71 cm) and breadth (0.54 cm). But the genotype, A-06008 gave the highest grain yield (0.62 t ha-1). Application of phosphorus at 90 kg ha-1 showed the highest leaf area index (6.67), SPAD value (50.98), pod length (14.33 cm), seed length (0.70 cm), seed breadth (0.50 cm) and grain yield (0.34 t ha-1). In terms of growth and yield, the cowpea genotype A-06008 showed the best performance at the phosphorus level of 90 kg ha-1. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2021, 24(1): 25-36


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