Influence of foliar nutrition of ZnSO4 and GA3 on yield and yield attributes of maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at Agriculture College Farm, Raichur during kharif 2018 an enttitled Influence of foliar nutrition of ZnSO4 and GA3 on physiological, biochemical and yield parameters of maize (Zea mays L.). The experiment was laid out in Factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with eighteen treatments.. The treatments were foliar nutrition of ZnSO4 @ 0.25 per cent, ZnSO4 @0.5 per cent and ZnSO4 @ 1.0 per cent and GA3 at 25 ppm, GA3 @ 50 ppm sprayed at different stages (V5, V6, and V5 & V6). Among the different treatments, foliar application of ZnSO4 (1.0%) at V5 stage revealed a significant effect on yield parameters such as cob length, cob weight, cob girth and number of rows per cob. Cob length was significantly higher in treatment ZnSO4 1% at V5 stage compared to other treatments. Number of kernels per row was more in ZnSO4 1% at V5 stage it ultimately leading to increasing in the yield. The test was highest in treatment ZnSO4 1% at V5 stage and T11 (1% ZnSO4 at V6 stage) & T12 (1% ZnSO4 at V5&V6) stage are a par with each other. Yield parameters were increased when foliar nutrition was given at early stages (V5 & V6 stage). It was concluded from the results that foliar nutrition during 25 to 30 days after sowing could increase maize productivity significantly by increasing morpo physiological and yield parameters of maize significantly.