Effect of spacing and silicon on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif season 2023 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences Prayagraj 211007 U.P. To determine “Effect of spacing and silicon on growth and yield of Maize (Zea mays L.)”. The treatment consisted of three levels of spacing (50 × 50), (60 × 25), (45 × 45) respectively and three levels of silicon (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with 10 treatments and replicated thrice. The result revealed that [Spacing (60 × 25) cm2 + Silicon 1.0%] (treatment 5) recorded significantly higher plant height (191.00 cm), higher plant dry weight (165.00 g), maximum number of cobs/plant (1.82), maximum number of grains/row (24.00), maximum number of rows/cob (12.94), higher test weight (22.50 g), higher seed yield (5.63 t/ha) and higher stover yield (9.60 t/ha). Maximum gross return (147750.00 INR/ha), net return (102985.00 INR/ha) and B:C ratio (2.30) was recorded in (treatment 5) [Spacing (60 × 25) cm2 + Silicon 1.0%] was found to be productive as well as economically feasible.