EFFECT OF POPULATION DENSITY AND NITROGEN LEVELS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE (Khaibhutta)

Abstract

The study was conducted in the Research Field and Laboratory of the Department of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during the period of March to July 2007, to investigate the growth and yield of maize in relation to population densities and different nitrogen levels. Three population nsity) viz., D, (5 plant/m’), D, (7.5 plant/m’) and D; (10 plant/m’) and four levels of nitrogen value viz., No (no nitrogen), N; (90 kg/ha), No (180 kg/ha) and N3 (270 kg/ha) were used. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. From the study it was observed to attain most of phenological stages of maize required maximum days on D3. The duration of seedling emergence, tasseling, cob intiation, pollen shading, silking and maturity required the highest days on D; condition. Present study also revealed that differences in planting density significantly influenced TDM, LAI, LAD, CGR, RGR and NAR. Nitrogen levels also influenced the above growth parameters significantly. The results also feveleg that higher planting density with N; gave the highest values of all the growth parameters. Chlorophyll content was significantly influenced due to variation in planting density. Planting density in D, gave the highest values of chlorophyll content. Nitrogen levels also significantly influenced the chlorophyll content. Reverse with chlorophyll content accumulation was increased with decreasing of nitrogen levels. Leaf dry weight, stem dry weight and ear dry weight were significantly influenced by different planting density. Planting density in D, gave the highest value of the above parameters. Nitrogen levels also significantly influenced the above parameters. Reverse with leaf dry weight, stem dry weight and ear dry weight were increased with decreasing of nitrogen levels. Significantly higher plant height, yield (3.37 t/ha) and harvest index was found in D3 condition and the lowest yield (59 t/ha) was obtained in D, condition while leaf number, ear length, ear diameter, number of ear/plant, number of grain rows/ear, number of grains/row, number of grains/ear and 1000-grain weight showed a reverse result with D, condition. Nitrogen levels also significantly influenced yield and yield attributes. The highest yield (3.65 t/ha) was obtained from the plant growing with N3 while the lowest yield (2.04 t/ha) was found from No. The interaction between planting density and different nitrogen levels showed a significant variation among the growth, yield and yield attributes of maize. It is indicated that D3; with N3 showed the best performance in respect of growth, yield attributes and yield of maize.