EFFECTS OF LEAF CLIPPING AND POPULATION DENSITY ON GREEN FODDER AND GRAIN YIELD IN HYBRID MAIZE

Abstract

The study was conducted in Crop Physiology and Ecology Research Field and Laboratory, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, during the period of March to July-2013 to investigate the effect of leaf clipping and population density on and fodder and grain yield in maize. There was three population density (D,= 75 cm x 25 cm, D.= 60 cm x 20 cm and D3= 50 cm x 20 cm) and three clipping treatments (C, = No clipping was done, C; = Removal of all leaf blades below the lowermost cob and C; = Removal of all leaf blades above the uppermost cob) at the silking stage were included as experimental treatments. The experiment was laid out in a two factors Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Results revealed that D, required the maximum days to attain most of the phenological stages of maize. The tasseling, cob initiation, silking and maturity stages required the highest number of days in D, condition. Differences in population density significantly influenced plant height and TDM. Plant height was not significantly influenced by different clipping treatments but the TDM was significantly influenced by leaf clipping. Higher population density (D3) with C; clipping treatment gave the highest plant height and the lowest population density (D,) with C, clipping treatment gave the lowest plant height. Highest TDM was found in D, population density with C, clipping treatment and the lowest TDM was found in lowest population density (D,) with C, clipping treatment. Highest yield (8883.86 kg ha”) was found in D; condition and the lowest yield (5922.40 kg ha’) was found in D, condition. Highest harvest index (36.19%) was found in D; and the lowest harvest index (32.56%) was found in D, condition. Leaf clipping treatments also significantly influenced the yield and yield attributes. The highest yield (8328.85 kg ha”) and harvest index (35.54%) was obtained from C, treatment and the lowest yield (6548.90 kg ha”) and harvest index (33.52%) was obtained from C3 treatment. The leaves removed from the plants during leaf clipping were used as fodder. The highest fodder yield (3333.33 kg ha") was obtained from D; condition and the lowest (2113.59 kg ha”) in D, condition. Leaf clipping showed significant effect on fodder yield. In C, condition no fodder was found due to no clipping but in C, condition highest amount of fodder (46669.14 kg ha”) was obtained. The interaction between population density and leaf clipping treatment showed a significant variation among the yield and yield attributes in maize. It is indicated that D3 with C, showed the best performance in respect of grain yield (9666.79 kg ha”) and harvest index (38.27%) of maize. But for both grain and fodder yield D; with C, showed the best performance.