EFFECT OF ARSENIC ON THE GROWTH, YIELD AND ARSENIC CONTENT IN LEAF AND GRAIN OF MAIZE (Zea mays)

Abstract

The experiment was performed in pot at the net house and laboratory, Department of Agcultural Chemistry, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during November 2016 to March 2017 and to assess the effect of arsenic on growth, yield and arsenic content in leaf and grain of maize (Zea mays). The experiment was conducted using two varieties viz. V 1 =BARI maize 7, V = Pacific 339 and five arsenic levels viz. T 0 = 0 mg As/kg soil, T 1 2 = 20 mg As/kg soil, T = 40 mg As/kg soil, T 3 =60 mg As/kg soil and T 4 2 =80 mg As/kg soil.Arsenic was added as sodium arsenate (Na 2 HAsO 4 .7H O).The experiment was set in completely randomized design (CRD) having two factors with three replications. Results showed that variety had produced plant height, number of leaves per plant, total dry mater, number of cob per plant, number of grain per plant, grain yield per plant.The taller plant was found in Pacific 339. BARI maize 7 achieved maximum number of cob per plant, number of grain per cob, grain yield per plant. Among the two varieties the higher grain yield per plant (31.79 g) was found in BARI maize 7. Different arsenic dose significantly affected all growth characters.The maximum plant height, number of leaf per plant, total dry matter , number of cob per plant, number of grain per cob were recorded at 0 mg As/kg of soil levels of arsenic. The highest grain yield (58.54g) per plant was also recorded at 0 mg As/kg of soil level of arsenic. Among the combined effects of varieties and arsenic, highest grain yield per plant (63.75 g) was observed from the combination of BARI maize 7 at 0 mg As/kg of soil arsenic level. Among the two varieties, the N content in leaf was highest (0.87 %) in BARI maize 7. The highest K content, P content and As content in leaf was found in Pacific 339. The highest N, P and K content recorded in shoot of BARI maize 7. The As content in stem was highest in Pacific 339. The highest N, P and K content recorded in grain of BARI maize 7. The As content in grain was highest in Pacific 339. Amount of arsenic concentration was increased by both varieties significantly with the increasing arsenic doses in soil.