Influence of zinc and boron on growth and yield of maize

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2023 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agriculture Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS), Prayagraj (U.P.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with 10 treatments and replicated thrice. The treatment consisted of 3 levels of Zinc (15, 20 and 25 kg/ha as soil application) and 3 levels of Boron (0.5%, 0.75% and 1% as foliar application) along with basal application of recommended doses of fertilizer and a control (120:60:60 kg N-P-K/ha). The results revealed that application of Zinc 25 Kg/ha + Boron 1% (treatment 9) recorded maximum plant height (219.13 cm), dry weight (169.57 g), number of grain rows per cob (17.20), number of grains per row (31.27), grain weight per cob (90.05 g), grain yield (7.82 t/ha) and straw yield (16.37 t/ha). The same treatment also recorded maximum B:C ratio (2.43) in Maize.