INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF MICRONUTRIENT AND SULPHUR ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University farm to study the effect of micronutrients on the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) during rabi season 2017-18. The experiment consisted of two factors: 1) variety viz. i) V 1 =

white maize (PSC-121) and ii) V 2 = yellow maize (BARI hybrid bhutta 7); 2) micronutrient treatment viz. F 0

= No Fertilizer, F = NPK+Zn+B+S+Mn, F 3 = NPK+Zn+B+S (no Mn), F = NPK+Zn+B+Mn (no S), F 5 = NPK+Zn+Mn+S (no B) and F 6 4 = NPK+Mn+S+B (no Zn). All the fertilizers were applied at their recommended doses. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot design with two factors and three replications. The result showed that variety, micronutrients and their interaction had significant effect on growth, yield and yield contributing characters. Combined effect showed that growth parameters viz. plant height, number of leaves plant -1 , dry weight plant -1 responded positively. The highest grain yield (12.78 t ha -1 ) was obtained from treatment V 1 1 F . This heigher grain yield obtained from V 1 F 2 was due to increase grains row -1 (32.88), grains cob -1 (472.10) and 1000 grain weight plant -1 (408.80 g). The present results indicated that the micronutrient like Zn, B and Mn combined with S should be applied along with NPK fertilizers at recommended rate to maximize yield of maize.

= NPK, F 2 2