Growth, yield attributes, yield and economics of winter popcorn (Zea mays everta Sturt.) as influenced by planting time fertility level and plant population under late sown condition

Abstract

The field experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications, assigning in 27 treatment combinations i.e. three sowing dates of Pop corn (Zea mays everta Sturt.)cv. V.L. Amber (15 Dec, 30 Dec and 15 Jan) arranged in main plots and three level of plant population (60000, 80000 and 100,000 plants ha-1) in sub plot. Three level of fertility (100:50:50, 150:65:65 and 200:85:85 kg of N: P2O5: K2O ha-1) apportioned in sub-sub plots at the Research farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU, Varanasi (U.P.) during late winter (rabi) seasons of 2009-10 and 2010-11 to study the influenced of planting time, fertility level and plant population on yield attributes, grain yield and economics of winter popcorn (Zea mays everta Sturt.) under late sown condition. The popcorn sown on 15th December recorded highest plant height, leaf-area index, dry matter, popcorn growth rate, yield attributes and yield of pop corn were significantly (P<0.05) affected and recorded highest benefit cost ratio (3.78). While, the maintenance of 80,000 popcorn plants/ha proved optimum for pop corn as it significantly (P<0.05) recorded highest number of kernel cob-1,grain yield (32.61 q/ha) and shelling percentage against density of 60,000 plants, while remained at par in straw yield over 100,000 plants. Application of 200: 85: 85 kg N: P2O5: K2O/ha significantly (P<0.05) increased growth, yield attributes and grain yield over 100: 50: 50 and 150: 65: 65 kg N: P2O5: K2O/ha and fetched the highest B: C ratio (3.14).

Productivity, nutrient use efficiency, energetics and bio-economics of winter maize in south India

“…The higher gross return and net return in these interactions were due to higher grain and stover yield, whereas significantly lower gross return and net return were recorded with planting during 1 st week of November along with application of 100 % RDF was due to its lower productivity of crop 70 .…”

Productivity, nutrient use efficiency, energetic, and economics of winter maize in south India

“…The higher physiological efficiency was recorded during 1 st week of November which might be due to more capacity of the plant to increase yield with per unit nutrient uptake. The lesser the application of fertilizer, the higher will be the nutrient use efficiency [ 5 , 61 , 71 – 76 ].…”

“…Interaction effect showed that significantly higher gross return and net return were recorded with planting during 1 st week of October along with the application of 200% RDF and were on par with planting during 2 nd week of October with 200% RDF and planting during 1 st week of October with 150% The higher gross return and net return in these interactions were due to higher grain and stover yield, whereas significantly lower gross return and net return were recorded with planting during 1 st week of November along with the application of 100% RDF was due to its lower productivity of crop [ 76 ]. A significantly higher B-C ratio was recorded with sowing at 1 st week of October along with the application of 150% RDF (2.55) and lower was with sowing at 1 st week of November along with the application of 100% RDF (1.83).…”

“…The findings of Khokhar et al [ 7 ] recorded higher input energy, output energy, and energy balance in higher fertility levels and higher energy use efficiency and energy productivity in lower fertility levels. In both the rainy and winter season, higher gross returns and net returns were obtained from maize sown early in the season compared to late sown crops [ 8 , 9 ].…”