GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE VARIETIES AS INFLUENCED BY INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from October-2021 to February-2022 in Rabi season, to study the growth and yield of maize varieties as influenced by integrated nutrient management. The experiment consisted of two factors, and followed split plot design with three replications. Factor A. Varieties (2) viz: V 1 : WIN-142 maize genotype V 2 : Pioneer 3355 maize genotype and Factor B. Different integrated nutrient management (6) viz: T 1 = Recommended dose of fertilizer application (RDF: Urea: 400 kg ha + MoP: 200 kg ha 1 ), T 2 -1 + Gypsum: 190 kg ha = 100% Trichocompost, T 3 -1 + ZnSO₄: 10 kg ha -1 -1 + TSP: 200 kg ha + Boric acid: 10 kg ha = 100% Trichocompost + 50% RDF, T 4 = 100% Trichocompost + 75% RDF, T 5 = 50 % Trichocompost + 50 % RDF and T 6 = 100% Trichocompost + RDF. For the purpose of evaluating the experimental outcomes, data on various parameters were evaluated. The analysis of various parameter data revealed significant differences in maize growth and yield, as a result of variety and different integrated nutrient management and their combination treatment. In case of different maize varieties the lowest grain yield (8.72 t ha -1 ) was observed in V 1 (WIN-142 maize genotype) treatment. Whereas cultivating Pioneer 3355 maize genotype (V 2 ) gave the highest cob length (20.86 cm), cob breadth (17.11 cm), number of rows cob (16.72), number of grains cob -1 (579.31), 1000-grain weight of maize (234.65 g) and grain yield (9.89 t ha -1 ). Among different doses of bio-fertilizers rated nutrient management strategies the highest cob length (22.58 cm), cob breadth (17.56 cm), number of rows cob -1 (18.17), number of grains cob -1 (616.48), 1000-grain weight (234.65 g) and grain yield (12.08 t ha -1 ) were observed in T 6 treatment. In case of combination, V 2 combination treatment gave the highest grain yield (13.08 t ha -1 ) in maize comparable to other treatment combination. Therefore, it would be suggested that cultivation of Pioneer 3355 maize genotype along with application of 100% Trichocompost + RDF (V 2 ) combination treatment would help to influence plant growth and increase its ability to enhance better yield production of maize.