SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF TROPICAL SEAWEED BASED BIOSTIMULANT WITH HUMIC PRODUCTS ON GRAIN YIELD OF MAIZE (VAR. SYNGENTA NK-6240) FARMED UNDER SEMI-ARID REGION

Maize is among the most important cereal crops in Ethiopia. Rely-intercropping of mung bean between maize enable to get grain yield of maize instead sole alone. Field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of relay intercropping mung bean at different population density and row arrangements with maize yield components and yield of the component crops, to evaluate the productivity and economic value of maize-mung bean intercropping at Sankura Wereda Jejebicho research station in 2019-2021 main cropping season. Three spatial row arrangements (1:1, 1:2 and 1:3) with four population densities (PD) (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) were intercropped with maize variety ‘Shone’. Each of the component crops were included as a sole for comparison. Randomized complete block design in factorial with three replications was used. days to tasselling, days to physiological maturity, leaf area, leaf area index, hundred kernel weight, grain yield and harvest index of maize significantly affected by the interaction effects of population density and spatial arrangements of mung bean. The highest (8.19 ton/ha) grain yield of maize was obtained from 100% population density and 1:3 spatial row arrangement of mung bean. This may due to the presence of high interspecific competition with related high plant population density per plot area compared to other treatments. Whereas the highest grain yield mung bean (18.54 Quintal/ha) was obtained from when mung rely intercropped with 100% population density and 1:3 row arrangements. The highest thousand seed weight (42.18g) was recorded from 25% population density and 1:1 row arrangements of mung bean. The maximum Land equivalent ration value was calculated from 1.88 from 100% population density in 2019 cropping season. The highest monitory advantage index value 110,280 Ethiopian birr) was obtained from 100% population density with all the three spatial row arrangement of mung bean. Therefore, this experiment could be recommended for mung bean rely cropped with maize by 100% population density and 1:3 row arrangement able the famers to get better grain yield of maize as well as mung bean.

Effect of nitrogen-sulphur nutrition and inhibitors of nitrification on the yield and quality of maize grain

ABSTRACTMaize and wheat are two important cereal crops for the food security of the world population. However, constant climate change and the intensification of anthropic activities have intensified the emergence of stressful environmental in the various agricultural production systems around the world. Therefore, in this study we evaluate the chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, transpiration and grain yield of maize and wheat crops exposed to soil salinity, drought and high temperatures and determine the damage intensity of these stressing conditions and the theoretical multifactorial damage intensity. Field experiments were conducted during the 2022 and 2023 agricultural seasons in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, Mexico. The treatments consisted of the cultivation of maize and wheat in three stressful production environments (soil salinity, drought and high temperatures) and a non‐stressful production environment (Control), with four repetitions. The tolerance and intensity index of abiotic stresses, as well as the intensity of theoretical multifactorial stress (salinity, drought and high temperatures), for morphological traits and grain yield, were calculated. The results reported that physiological traits and yield of maize and wheat are severely affected by drought stress conditions. High temperatures are the second abiotic stress factor that most limits physiological traits and grain yield of maize and wheat crops, being more harmful than soil salinity. The theoretical multifactorial stress has a greater negative impact on the yield of the elite maize and wheat varieties. The sum of a stressful environmental factor increases the intensity of multifactorial stress on grain yield of both cereal crops, especially for maize crop.

Soil C and N dynamics and maize ( Zea may L.) yield as affected by cropping systems and residue management in North-western Pakistan

Increasing planting density is an important ways to increase maize yield. A hot topic of conversation in the current research is how to improve crop light efficiency and yield potential by optimizing the cultivation mode under high density planting is a hot topic in current research. Thus, in this study, a field experiment was conducted to explore the effects of stereo-planting patterns on water and the utilization light resource and maize yields. Planting patterns included the conventional flat planting pattern (as the control, CK) and the stereo-planting in ridge and furrow (T). Each planting pattern had three planting densities, i.e., 60,000 plants ha−1 (D1), 75,000 plants ha−1 (D2) and 90,000 plants ha−1 (D3). The results showed that stereo-planting affected the physiological characteristics of plants by changing the spatial distribution of soil moisture. At the silking stage (R1), photosynthetic rate (Pn) of plants on the ridge was similar to CK, and transpiration rate (Tr) was significantly lower than that of CK. Pn of maize in the furrow was significantly higher than that of CK, and Tr was similar to CK. Stereoscopic planting had different effects on intraspecific competition intensity in maize population in different growing stages. In the six-leaf stage (V6), stereo-planting increased competition intensity of maize on the ridge, but lowered that of maize in the furrow by affecting the spatial distribution of soil moisture. During the R1 stage, stereo-planting increased the light transmittance rate within the canopy and eased the plant’s competition for light by reducing plant height and leaf area of maize under three density conditions. Stereo-planting had no effect on grain yield and dry matter accumulation of ridge-planted maize in the later growing stage, but it did increased the dry matter accumulation and grain yield of furrow-planted maize due to the improvement of the light environment and photosynthetic characteristics of the population. In two test years, stereo-planting increased 5.0–11.0% average yield of maize compared to CK under three density conditions. These results indicate that stereo-planting can reduce the plant’s competition for light and water resources and improve its physiological traits of plant by optimizing its spatial distribution of soil moisture and canopy structure, thus further increasing grain yield of maize under high-density planting conditions.

Maize is among the most important cereal crops in Ethiopia. Intercropping results in high overall system productivity on a given piece of land due to efficient use of the available plant growth resources. Field experiment was conducted to were to evaluate and select the cropping systems and best performing common bean varieties in intercropping with maize at jejebicho research station for higher productivity and profitability in southern parts of Ethiopia, under Wondo genet Agricultural Research Center at Sankura wereda, Jejebicho research station in 2019/20 cropping season. Three varieties of common bean (Deme, KAT-B1 and Awash-2) and were intercropped with two maize varieties (Limu and Shone). The three common bean varieties and two maize varieties were included as a sole for comparison. Randomized complete block design in factorial with three replications was used. Aboveground biomass, days to tasseling, hundred kernel weight, grain yield and harvest index of maize were significantly affected by varieties of common bean, cropping system was also significantly affected leaf area, leaf index, days to tasseling, days to physiological maturity and grain yield of maize but their interaction effect were non significantly affected. Days to tasseling of maize were delayed (81.50 days) and hastened (74.23 days) by variety Awash-2 and Deme, respectively as compared to KAT-B1. The wider leaf area (910.20cm²) was measured from intercropped maize than sole and the larger leaf area index (3.79) was also recorded from intercropped maize than sole one. Days to tasseling of maize were delayed (80.80 days) at sole cropped of maize. The longer days to physiological maturity (143.84 days) of maize was taken from sole cropping of maize. The highest grain yield (7.60 ton/ha) of maize was taken from Shone intercropped with Awash-2 as compared to varieties. In cropping system, the maximum grain yield (7.12 ton/ha) of maize was obtained from intercropped of it. Plant height, branch number per plant, number of seed per pod, number of pod per plant, days to physiological maturity, aboveground biomass, hundred kernel weight, grain yield and harvest index of common bean. The longest plant (132.13cm) was measured from Deme intercropped with Limu. The highest (5.17) number of branches was counted at Deme intercropped with Limu. The highest number of pods per plant and number of seed per pod (10.92 and 4.63) was counted at Deme intercropped with Limu and Limu with Awash-2 respectively. The highest grain yield (22.38 ton/ha) was obtained when Shone intercropped with Deme. The highest partial land equivalent ratio (LER) of maize and common bean non significantly affected by varieties of both. Monitory advantage index was also non significantly affected. However, the highest value of monetary advantage index (105,359 ETB ha^-1) was obtained at Shone intercropped with Deme. Therefore, any of the two (Limu or Shone) maize varieties could be recommended for intercropping with Deme of common bean variety.

Effects of nitrogen application rates and irrigation regimes on grain yield and water use efficiency of maize under alternate partial root-zone irrigation

Field experiments were conducted in a sandy loam soil at the research farm of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi during the kharif season of 2012 and 2013 with the objective to study the effect of crop residue mulch, irrigation and nitrogen (N) on soil water dynamics, growth, yield, water and N use efficiency of maize. Maize (cv. HQPM 1) was grown in a split-split plot design with two levels of irrigation, two levels of mulch and three levels of N. The grain yield of maize increased significantly by 31 per cent under irrigated condition than that of rainfed condition in the year 2012. Application of crop residue mulch increased the grain yield of maize significantly by 11.5 and 28.4 per cent compared to nomulch treatment in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Application of N significantly increased the grain yield of maize over the control. However, there was no significant difference between 75 kg and 150 kg N ha−1 with respect to grain and biomass yield of maize. The water use efficiency of maize increased significantly by 12.6 and 36 per cent in 2012 and 2013, respectively due to crop residue mulch. The apparent N recovery and agronomic N use efficiency increased significantly but physiological N use efficiency decreased under mulching. So, maize may be grown with 75 kg N ha−1 and wheat residue mulch @ 10 t ha−1 to achieve higher yield, water use efficiency and N use efficiency in Upper-Indo-Gangetic Plain region.

To explore the effects of different densities of mixed-cropping on 13C-photosynthate distribution and grain yield of maize, we measured photosynthetic characteristics, 13C-photosynthate distribution, dry matter accumulation, and grain yield under different planting densities (LD, 67500 plants·hm-2 and HD, 97500 plants·hm-2) under mixed-cropping (M, 1:1, 2:2) and monoculture of Zhengdan958 (ZD) and Denghai605 (DH). The results showed that with the increases of planting density, grain yield, 13C-photosynthate allocation to grain, dry matter accumulation, and leaf area index (LAI) increased, but the chlorophyll content and net photosynthetic rate decreased. No significant difference was observed between the monoculture and mixed-cropping at the density of 67500 plants·hm-2. However, at 97500 plants·hm-2, LAI, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate and dry matter accumulation in mixed-cropping were higher than that in monoculture. Mixed-cropping promoted the transport of dry matter from the vegetative organs such as stem to the grain and the distribution of 13C-photosynthates to grain. Grain yield of summer maize significantly increased in mixed-cropping due to the increase of 1000-grain mass. Under high plant density, the mixed-cropping could enlarge photosynthetic area, maintain higher net photosynthetic rate, increase dry matter accumulation, improve the distribution of dry matter, promote the distribution of 13C-photosynthates to grains and thus increase the grain yield. Our results indicated that mixed-cropping could significantly increase the yield of close planting summer maize in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain.

The study was carried out during 2020–21 and 2021–22 at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana to evaluate biostimulants based nutrient management practices in spring maize (Zea mays L.) under legume based cropping sequence. Experiment was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with 9 treatments of biostimulant based nutrient management, viz. T1, Absolute control; T2, 100% RDF (recommended dose of fertilizer); T3, 75% RDF + Azotobacter; T4, 50% RDF + Azotobacter + PGPR (Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria); T5, 75% RDF + Azotobacter + PGPR; T6, 50% RDF + Azotobacter + PGPR + Humic acid (HA); T7, 75% RDF + Azotobacter + PGPR + HA; T8, 50% RDF + Azotobacter + PGPR + HA + Seaweed extract (SWE); and T9, 75% RDF + Azotobacter + PGPR + HA + SWE, replicated thrice. Results showed that the growth parameters, viz. plant height, leaf length, leaf width and number of leaves/plant had no significant response at 30 DAS (days after sowing) during both the studied year. However, at 60 DAS, these parameters were significantly higher in 100% RDF which was statistically on par with 75% RDF + Azotobacter + PGPR + Humic acid (HA) + Seaweed extract (SWE) and 75% RDF + Azotobacter + PGPR + HA. Whereas at harvest, growth attributes were significantly higher in 75% RDF + Azotobacter + PGPR + HA + SWE which was statistically on par with RDF + Azotobacter + PGPR + HA and 100% RDF. Similarly, grain (7.81 and 8.00 t/ha), stover (12.18 and 12.48 t/ha) and biological yield (22.47 and 22.92 t/ha) were significantly higher in 75% RDF + Azotobacter + PGPR + HA + SWE which was statistically on par to RDF + Azotobacter + PGPR + HA and 100% RDF during 2020–21 and 2021–22, respectively. Hence, the treatment 75% RDF + Azotobacter + PGPR + HA + SWE found better and can replace up to 25% RDF as comparable to conventional practice without compromising the crop yield.

Maize is considered to be one of the most significant crops in the world. On a global scale, the appropriate yield level of food can largely affect food security. During cultivation, this plant is exposed to many adverse environmental factors, including water deficiency. Plant stress is reduced by applying appropriate biostimulants or soil amendments. This study tested the effectiveness of preparations based on Rhizophagus irregularis, humic acids, Bacillus velezensis + Bacillus licheniformis and Methylobacterium symbioticum. The aim of the project was to assess the effect of selected microorganisms and substances on the growth, yield, and physiological parameters of maize. The hypothesis assumed that the preparations selected for this study could improve the condition of the plants in various soil moisture conditions. All treatments were carried out post-emergence. The experiments were conducted in greenhouse conditions, where, in conditions of different level of soil moisture, optimal and water deficiency, the effect of the above-mentioned substances and microorganisms on the height, mass of plants, and plant chlorophyll fluorescence was determined. Chlorophyll, anthocyanin, and flavonol content were also measured. In two-year field studies, the effect of the same preparations on plant height, grain yield, thousand-grain weight, oil, protein, and starch content in the grain was determined. It was shown that appropriately selected biostimulants have a positive effect on plant growth, physiological parameters, and the yield of maize grain. The impact of preparations on the grain yield depended on the conditions that prevailed in the growing season.

Maize is potentially important for human nutrition and contributes to strengthening food security, parallel to the cultivation of rice. Due to the nutritional value, dietary energy source and the emerging limitations of rice farming in the reduced water supply scenario in India during winter, the growing trend of adopting maize, especially in the rabi season under judicious nutrient management practices, is in high demand. However, fewer findings are available on enhancing the rabi maize productivity with balanced nutrient management in the coastal tracts of West Bengal. Based on the above facts, a field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different doses of phosphorous in combination with Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) and Phosphate-Solubilising Bacteria (PSB) for enhancing growth and yield of maize in rabi season of 2024-25 comprising ten treatments, conjoining biofertilizers either solely without any chemical phosphorous or with different levels of chemical phosphorous separately that can boost the productivity of rabi maize. The P2O5 application at 60 kg/ha, combined with VAM inoculation at 20 g/kg seed exhibited the highest grain yield (5.91 t/ha) and stover yield (8.31 t/ha), as well as all growth and yield parameters, indicating the most suitable synergistic impacts between the bioinoculant and inorganic phosphorus. The aforesaid treatment was closely followed by applying P2O5 @ 40 kg/ha + VAM inoculation @ 20 g/kg, with the grain yield of 5.53 t/ha, and it remained significantly inferior in enhancing the grain yield of maize. The combined impact of 60 kg phosphorus + 20 g VAM/kg seed reflected better plant growth that eventually increased the grain yield of rabi maize, which can be recommended for the coastal areas of West Bengal.

Soybean can contribute to soil N, which may partly be used to improve maize production in northeast Nigeria. However, the efficiency of soybean to fix N can be limited by soil P deficiency. This study evaluated the effect of P application and soybean cultivars on dry matter and grain yield of subsequent maize for two years (2005 - 2006) at Miringa and Azir. Experimental design was a split-plot with three replications. The main plots contained P levels of 0, 20 and 40 kg P/ha and subplots had four soybean cultivars. Maize was planted in the harvested soybean plots. Application of P to soybean at 20 and 40 kg/ha significantly increased dry matter and grain yield of succeeding maize. Differences in grain yield were significant between all P rates in Miringa (2005) and Azir (2006) but only between 0 and 40 kg P/ha in Azir (2005) and Miringa (2006). The grain yields of maize following late-maturing soybean cultivars were significantly higher than those following the early maturing cultivars in 2005. The maize yield increases could however, not be explained by total soil N, available P, and N and P uptake. Other rotation effects beyond N supply by the preceding soybean may be responsible for the yield increases of maize.

Abstract. The adoption of Conservation agriculture (CA) contributes to sustainable production and its advantages include lower inputs and stable yields. This study was conducted in the research field of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Bhagetada, Dipayal, Doti during 2014 and 2015 to identify the effect of CA on grain yield and income of maize in Maize based cropping system. Both conservation and conventional agricultural (ConvA) practices were evaluated on two maize based cropping systems namely maize-wheat-mungbean (M-W-MB) and maize-lentil-mungbean (M-L-MB). For this purpose two maize varieties namely Raj Kumar and Arun-2 were used. The average productivity of maize under M-L-MB cropping system was 1.6% higher (5.75 t/ha) than M-W-MB cropping system (5.66 t/ha). The average grain yield of maize under CA was 16.7% higher (6.15 t/ha) than ConvA (5.27 t/ha). Rajkumar produced 43% higher average grain yield (6.73 t/ha) than Arun-2 variety (4.69 t/ha). The average net benefit was slightly higher (US$ 597.33/ha) under M-L-MB cropping system than M-W-MB cropping system (US$ 573.89/ha). Similarly, the average net benefit from CA was 102% higher (US$ 783.67/ha) than ConvA (US$ 386.79/ha). Rajkumar variety gave 127% higher average net benefit (US$ 813.49/ha) than Arun-2 (US$ 357.81/ha). The average benefit - cost (B:C) ratio of M-L-MB cropping system was slightly higher (1.72) than the average B:C ratio of M-W-MB cropping system (1.70). The average B:C ratio of CA was 42% higher (2.01) than ConvA (1.41). The average B:C ratio of Rajkumar variety was found 33% higher (1.95) than Arun-2 (1.46). The higher grain yield, net profit and B:C ratio were found in CA practices under M-L-MB cropping system and Rajkumar variety. This study suggests that hybrid maize planting and the adoption of M-L-MB cropping system should be used to increase grain yield and economic performance under CA practices.

The potential impacts of climate warming on grain yield, water, and nitrogen consumptions of maize have been repeatedly assessed across different regions of the world. However, to date, there is no comprehensive, large-scale evaluation on the effects of climate warming on the cropping systems of Iran. The objective of the current study was to quantify the effects of climate warming on the length of the growing period and grain yield of maize. We also tested the potential of changes in irrigation, nitrogen application rate, and using late maturity cultivars of maize to offset the negative impact of climate warming in order to maintain the current levels of grain yield (4 to 10 t ha−1 depending upon the province) in Iran. The crop modeling framework SIMPLACE was used to evaluate the effects of the warming temperatures, nitrogen application rate, and changes in thermal requirements of the cultivar scenario combinations on grain yield of maize in Iran. The climate, soil, and management inputs of the crop model were obtained from global datasets as grid cells at 0.5° × 0.5° resolution, and the outputs of the crop model were aggregated to the province level. Results of the grain yield projections showed a decline (− 0.1 to − 22%) in maize, especially in the Southern provinces (Khuzestan, Fars, and Kerman) under different warming scenarios by + 0.5 to + 2 °C, an increase from the baseline. The grain yield decline appeared to be mainly driven by a shortening of the length of the growing season and extreme heat stress during anthesis, the most sensitive period of crop growth. Increasing temperatures during the growing season lead to a marginal increase of absolute irrigation requirements over the maize growing areas. For all provinces, application of 10–25% more nitrogen than the current rate (170 kg N/ha-1) was able to offset the negative effects of higher temperatures (+ 0.5 and + 1.0 °C) during the growing season. However, the increased nitrogen application rates were not able to maintain the baseline level of grain yield under the + 1.5 and + 2.0 °C warming scenarios. Introducing late maturity cultivars, which required 20% more temperature sum than current cultivars to reach maturity, improved the grain yield in the cooler provinces by up to 10%. In conclusion, the grain yield baseline level may not be maintained under the highest magnitude of warming by increasing nitrogen application rates or using late maturity cultivars. Furthermore, more water is needed to produce a unit of grain under a warming climate. This study also suggests that combined adaptation strategies should be considered by policymakers in order to mitigate the negative impact of climate warming on the cropping systems of Iran.