Effects of plant spacing and nitrogen level on the green fodder yield of maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

to investigate the effect of plant spacing and nitrogen level on growth parameters and green fodder yield of maize (Zea mays L.). The experiment comprised three plant spacings viz., 35 cm × 10 cm, 35 cm × 20 cm, 35 cm × 30 cm and three nitrogen levels viz., 100, 150 and 200 kg N ha-1. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results revealed that plant spacing, nitrogen levels and their interaction had significant effect on growth parameters and green fodder yield. The tallest plant (192.5 cm) was obtained at plant spacing 35 cm × 30 cm, while the highest fodder yield (61.13 t ha-1) of Z. mays was recorded at 35 cm × 10 cm spacing. In case of nitrogen level, the tallest plant (204.9 cm), the highest number of leaves plant-1 (12.22), the highest chlorophyll content in leaves (41.50) and the highest fodder yield (70.38 t ha-1) of Z. mays were recorded in 200 kg N ha-1. In case of interaction, the tallest plant (218.4 cm) of Z. mays was produced at spacing 35 cm × 30 cm along with 200 kg N ha-1. The highest fodder yield (78.01 t ha-1) of Z. mays was obtained at spacing 35 cm × 10 cm fertilized with 200 kg N ha-1 which was at par with spacing 35 cm × 20 cm fertilized with 200 kg N ha-1 and the lowest fodder yield (31.91 t ha-1) was obtained at spacing 35 cm × 30 cm along with 100 kg N ha-1. Therefore, spacing 35 cm × 10 cm fertilized with 200 kg N ha-1 appears as the promising practice for maize cultivation as fodder crop.

Impact of Nutrients on the Development and Yield of Fodder Maize (Zea mays L.): A Review

“…The yield of forage crops are significantly affected by nitrogen fertilization. The higher forage yield (70.38 ton ha -1 ) of fodder maize was gained in applying of 200 kg nitrogen ha -1 as comparison with 150 kg nitrogen ha -1 and the lower forage yield (46.72 ton ha -1 ) of fodder maize was gained with applying of 100 kg nitrogen ha -1 (Paul et al, 2019). The same result was proposed by Khan et al (2014) who concluded that highest yield was received by the application of nitrogen substance properly with the proper dose.…”

“…El-Mekser et al (2015) proposed that maize yield improved by the application of optimum nitrogen supply. Paul et al (2019) directed a field trial on fodder maize crop and concluded that different levels of nitrogen affect the growth parameter of fodder maize crops. The tallest height of the plant (204.9 cm) and higher leaves number in the unit of the plant (12.22) were obtained by applying of 200 kg nitrogen ha -1 as compared to lower plant height (155.4 cm) and lower leaves number in unit plant (10.56) in the application of 100 kg nitrogen ha -1 .…”

Effect of Different Spacing and Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield of Maize: A Review

“…al. [8] using a spacing half the size they have experimented, Paul [10] concluded that using spacing distance of 35cm x 10cm gives the maximum production of green fodder. Sharifi and Namvar [11] found that the significantly taller plants, total dry matter was found in intra row spacing of 45cm.…”

Differences of Maize Fodder Yield and Crop Attributes under Different Irrigation and Nutrient Management

“…This flexible crop has various uses such as food, fodder, fuel and as a source material for different industrial products (Abbas et al, 2021;Wasaya et al, 2021;Hasan et al, 2018). Maize cultivation for animal feed in Bangladesh is becoming more popular because of its potential for export and its significant role in creating job opportunities (Paul et al, 2019;Sarker et al, 2020).…”