Impact of potassium rates and their application time on dry matter partitioning, biomass and harvest index of maize (&lt;i&gt;Zea mays&lt;/i&gt;) with and without cattle dung application

Amanullah Amanullah,Mazhar Iqbal,Asif Iqbal

doi:10.9755/ejfa.2015.04.042

Impact of potassium rates and their application time on dry matter partitioning, biomass and harvest index of maize (<i>Zea mays</i>) with and without cattle dung application

Amanullah Amanullah, Mazhar Iqbal + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.9755/ejfa.2015.04.042

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Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted to study the response of maize (Zea mays L., cv. Azam) to potassium (K) levels (30, 60, 90 kg ha-1) and K application time (T1 = full at sowing, T2 = full at V9 stage (many ear shoots were easily visible upon dissection), and T3 = 50% each at sowing and V9 stage with and without cattle dung. One experiment was carried out in the field where 5 t ha-1 cattle dung was applied (15 days before sowing), while the field under second experiment received no cattle dung (0 t ha-1). The research was carried out at the Agronomy Research Farm of The University of Agriculture Peshawar during summer 2014. The experiments under both treatments were laid out in randomized complete block design using three replications. The results revealed that the K treated plots (rest) under both treatments had produced more number of leaves plant-1 and mean leaf area, partitioned more dry matter into various plant parts (leaf, stem and ear), and produced more biomass yield and harvest index than control (K not applied). Cattle dung was found more beneficial in terms of more number of leaves plant-1, higher mean leaf area, partitioning of more dry matter into leaf, stem and ear, and producing higher biomass yield and harvest index as compared to the treatment that received no cattle dung. Increasing the rate of K increased number of leaves plant-1 and mean leaf area, partitioned more dry matter into various plant parts (leaf, stem and ear), produced more biomass yield and harvest index and vice versa (90 kg K ha-1 > 60 kg K ha-1 > 30 kg K ha-1). Increase in number of leaves plant-1, mean leaf area, dry matter partitioning into various plant parts (leaf, stem and ear), biomass yield and harvest index was observed when K was applied in two equal splits (50% each at sowing and V9 stage > 100 % at sowing > 100 % at V9 stage). It was concluded from this study that application of K at the highest rate of 90 kg ha-1 in two equal splits (50% at sowing + 50% at V9 stage) along with cattle dung (5 t ha-1) could improve number and area of leaves, dry matter partitioning, biomass yield and harvest index under limited irrigation condition.

Highlights

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the third most important cereal crop in Pakistan after wheat and rice
During 2012, maize was cultivated on an area of 1087.3 thousand hectares with the total production of 4338.3 thousand tons and national average yield of 3990 kg ha-1, while in Northwest Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) it is grown on about 475.3 thousand hectares with a total production of 887.8 thousand tones and very low average yield of 1868 kg ha-1 (MINFAL, 2012)
Plant growth Number of leaves plant-1 and mean leaf area was significantly affected by control vs. rest, cattle dung, K levels and K application timing, while all interactions were found non-significant (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the third most important cereal crop in Pakistan after wheat and rice. In Northwest Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) it ranked 2nd after wheat in its importance. During 2012, maize was cultivated on an area of 1087.3 thousand hectares with the total production of 4338.3 thousand tons and national average yield of 3990 kg ha-1, while in Northwest Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) it is grown on about 475.3 thousand hectares with a total production of 887.8 thousand tones and very low average yield of 1868 kg ha-1 (MINFAL, 2012). In Northwest Pakistan, the main reason for low yield of maize is attributed to the imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers (Amanullah et al, 2010a, 2012, 2014). The farmers in this region apply potassium (K) only to tobacco crop because of industry regulations, and the two major crops (wheat and maize) do not received any K. Under K deficient soils, photosynthesis is significantly reduced (Hermans et al, 2006) which is responsible for low yield in maize (Asif et al, 2007; Amanullah et al, 2007), brassica (Amanullah et al, 2011)

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