Growth, crop phenology and PAR interception in kharif maize (Zea mays L.) as influenced by planting methods and nitrogen levels

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during kharif 2015 to study the influence of three planting methods (flat, ridge and bed planting) and five nitrogen levels (0, 90, 120, 150 and 180 kg N/ha) on the growth, phenology and PAR interception in kharif maize. Bed planting method produced significantly higher LAI, DMA, leaf chlorophyll content, cob length, cob girth, number of rows per cob and grain yield of maize as compared to flat sowing method but was statistically at par with ridge planting method. Maximum PAR interception of 78.2% was registered at 90 DAS when the crop was raised on beds. Tasselling, silking and physiological maturity were enhanced by 2.3 to 2.5, 3.3 to 3.7 and 2.2 to 2.6 days, respectively, under bed and ridge planting methods as compared to flat sowing method. Application of 150 kg N/ha recorded significantly higher LAI, DMA, leaf chlorophyll content, PAR interception, cob length, cob girth, number of rows per cob and grain yield over 120, 90 and control but at par with 180 kg N/ha. Maximum PAR interception of 82.8% was observed with application of 180 kg N/ha at 90 DAS which was significantly higher than 0, 90 and 120 kg N/ha but was at par with 150 kg N/ha. Nitrogen application enhanced the tasselling and silking stages but delayed the physiological maturity stage.