AGRONOMIC AND GENETIC PERFORMANCE OF HYBRID MAIZE (Zea mays L.) VARIETIES INFLUENCED BY THREE LEVELS OF IRRIGATION

Abstract

The present piece of research work was carried out at the field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka- 1207. from December 2010 to May 2011 to determine optimum water requirement for the cultivation of hybrid maize varieties. There were two factors in this experiment, a) four hybrid maize varieties: V1 (BAR! Hybrid Maize-5). V2 (Pacific 60), V3 (NK 40) and V4 (Ajanta) and b) three levels of irrigation: 11 = Two irrigations at 25 and 50 DAS, 12 = Three irrigations at 25. 50 and 75 DAS and 13 = Four irrigations at 25, 50, 75 and 100 DAS. respectively. Selected varieties and irrigation levels individually had a few significant effects on the pimit characteristics of maize but had significant effect on yields and yield contributing characters. Almost all the plant and yield contributing characters were significant except days to 6 leaf stage and days to bud initiation stage. The higher yields were recorded in V1 13 (7.92 t ha'), V413 (7.83 t ha') and V213 (7.45 ha') which were statistically identical with V112 (7.40 t hi'), V2I2 (6.87 t ha') and V412 (6.80 ha), respectively. The highest water use efficiency (0.122 t ha4cm 1) was found in V211 treatment combination followed by V111 (0.121 t ha'cm'), V112 (0.120 t hi'cm'). The highest benefit cost ratio (BCR) was obsen'ed (2.37) in both V113 and V112 treatment combination. BAR! Hybrid Maize-S performed better among the four varieties tested in this experiment. Moreover, total average water saving in one hectare land for maize cultivation by adopting 12 irrigation treatment over Ij is 4,49.837 gallons. Among the treatment combinations, V112 (BARI Hybrid Maize-5 with three irrigations at 25. 50 and 75 DAS) was the best combination for maize cultivation.