Effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) on yield attributes and yield of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The field study was carried out at the Department of Agronomy, Eastern Block Farm in Tamil Nadu Agriculture University Coimbatore, to study the effect of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) on yield attributes and yield of hybrid maize. Total fourteen treatment were followed out of which twelve treatments were of ZnONPs at 50,100,200 and 300 ppm treatment were administered in two stages viz., knee height stage (30-35 DAS) and tasseling stage (46-56 DAS) and one treatment of foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 and one treatment of control water spray with three replications. Among the different treatment foliar application of ZnONPs @ 300 ppm at knee height and tasselling stage give the significantly recorded higher yield attributes viz., cob length ( 20.21cm), cob weight (217.17 g), cob girth (16.8 cm) as well as the grain yield (5,213 kg ha-1) and stover yield (13,417 kg ha-1).