Influence of foliar nutrition at different growth stages on physiological and biochemical parameters of maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at Agriculture College Farm, Raichur during kharif -2017 to study the influence of foliar nutrition at different growth stages on physiological & biochemical parameters and yield of maize. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with thirteen treatments including the control. The treatments were foliar nutrition of NPK (19:19:19) at 1 per cent, H3BO3 at 0.1 per cent and ZnSO4 at 0.5 per cent along with recommended dose of fertilizer sprayed at different growth stages (V5, V6, V11 and V12). Among the different treatments, foliar application of ZnSO4 (0.5 %) at V6 stage revealed a significant effect on physiological parameters such as photosynthesis rate and normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI) and biochemical parameters viz., chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, reducing and non- reducing sugar content in leaves ultimately leading to increasing in yield. Physiological and biochemical parameters except transpiration rate were increased when foliar nutrition was given at early stages (V5 and V6 stage) than late stage (V11 and V12 stage) of leaf growth. It was concluded from the results that foliar nutrition during 25 to 30 days after sowing could increase maize productivity significantly by increasing physiological and biochemical activity.