Integrated approaches for enhancing seed yield in heat resilient maize hybrid (Zea mays L.) RCRMH-2

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of nutrients for enhancing seed yield in the heat-resilient maize hybrid (Zea mays L.) RCRMH-2 in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with eleven treatments and three replications at the Agricultural Research Station, Bheemarayanagudi, during Rabi 2022–23. The results revealed that, seed parent treated with the foliar spray, a combination of zinc (0.5 %), iron (0.25 %), boron (0.2 %), nanourea @ 2 ml L-1, lithovit @ 0.5 g L-1 and nano DAP @ 2 ml L-1 to female parental lines significantly recorded the highest plant growth parameters viz., plant height at 60 DAS (175.5 cm) and at harvest (195.3 cm), days to 50 per cent silking (59.48) in female and tasselling (61.4) in male and seed yield parameters viz., cob length (15.82 cm), cob diameter (4.43 cm), cob weight (100.39 g), 100 seed weight (31.88 g), number of seeds per cob (259.83), seed yield per ha-1 (34.13 q) and shelling (82.25 %) which was followed by foliar spray of zinc (0.5 %), iron (0.25 %), boron (0.2 %), nanourea @ 2 ml L-1, and lithovit @ 0.5 g L-1 compare to other treatments. The combination of nutrients resulted an increase in the hybrid seed yield around 16.54 per cent over control in maize hybrid seed production.