Effect of plant spacing and foliar feeding of iron in growth and yield traits of maize.

Abstract

ield experiment was carried out in a loamy sand soil mixture, at Al-Naemea region, Fallujah City of Al–Anbar province, during the spring and autumn seasons of 2013, to study the effect of three plant spacing between plants10, 15 and 20 cm and four concentrations of foliar feeding of iron 0, 50, 75and100 mg Fe L-1 in growth and yield of maize Ipa 5018. Factorial arrangement was use with R.C.B.D.in three replicates. The results showed that a distance of 10 cm of planting gave the highest mean for each of the plant height, leaf area index and total grain yield 4.75 and 6.15 t ha-1 for two seasons respectively. While the distance of 20 cm planting gave the highest mean for each of the leaf area in autumn season, ear number per plant, number of rows per ear and weight of 500 grain for two season respectively. The concentration 100 mg Fe L-1 gave the highest mean for each of the leaf area ,leaf area index, ear number per plant, number of rows per ear, weight of 500 grain and total grain yield 4.82 and 6.38 t ha-1 for two season respectively. While the concentration 75 mg Fe L-1 gave the highest mean of plant height. The interaction between planting distance of 20 cm and a concentration of 100 mg Fe L-1 was significant effect in ear number per plant and number of rows per ear in autumn season and leaf area and weight of 500 grain in both season respectively. While the interaction between 10 cm distance with concentration 75 mg Fe L-1 significant effect in leaf area index and total grain yield in both season respectively.