EFFECT OF ZINC AND BORON ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) IN PYUTHAN, NEPAL

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The study was carried out to evaluate the production performance of hybrid maize variety Kanchan with the use of different fertilizers at field condition. The study was conducted with five treatments and four replications in single factor Randomized Complete Block Design. Treatment consists of farmer practice 80:50 NP2O5 kg ha-1, recommended dose 150:60:40 NP2O5K2O kg ha-1, recommended dose of NP2O5K2O + 15 kg ha-1 zinc, recommended NP2O5K2O + 2 kg ha-1 boron, and recommended NP2O5K2O + 15 kg ha-1 zinc + 2 kg ha-1 boron. At 90 days after sowing the leaf area index (LAI) was significantly higher with recommended dose of NP2O5K2O + Zn + B (2.46cm2) which was statistically similar with recommended dose of NP2O5K2O + Zn (2.39cm2) and recommended dose of NP2O5K2O + B (2.22cm2). Plant heights were the highest with recommended NP2O5K2O + Zn+ B at earlier stage of crop growth but was statistically similar among different treatments at later stage of crop growth. Days to 50% tasseling were the longest with farmer practice (74 days) while it was shortest in recommended NP2O5K2O + Zn+ B (69days). Anthesis silking interval was obtained the shortest in recommended NP2O5K2O + Zn +B (2.75days). Similarly, phenological character, cob length was highest (16.650cm) with recommended NP2O5K2O + Zn+ B which was statistically similar with recommended NP2O5K2O + B (16.725cm) and recommended NP2O5K2O + Zn (16.5cm). The lowest sterility (%) was obtained with the recommended NP2O5K2O +Zn+ B (9.5%) which was statistically similar with recommended NP2O5K2O + B (9.5%) and Rec. NPK +Zn (11.2%). The highest grain yield (9.01ton/ha), harvest index (0.45) and benefit cost ratio (1.92) were recorded with the recommended NP2O5K2O + Zn+ B while these parameters were the lowest with the farmer practice. Thus, the study showed that hybrid maize yield could be maximized with fertilization of 150:60:40 NP2O5K2O kg ha-1, Zn15 kgha-1 and B 2 kgha-1 and use of micronutrition such as Zn and B is beneficial to enhance growth and yield of hybrid maize.