Effect of different growing environments on yield attributing characters and yield of maize crop (Zea mays L.) in Ayodhya (U.P.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at Agrometeorological Research Farm, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.) during kharif season of year 2021-23 in crop growing environment on yield attributing characters and yield of kharif maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars. The experiment comprised nine treatment combinations and conducted in RBD with replicated four times. Treatment consisted of three crop growing environment viz. 1st July, 11th July and 21st July with cultivars Shweta, Type-41 and Tarun of maize crop. Results reveal that Yield attributing characters like Number of cob per plant, length of cob (cm), number of grain rows per cob, number of grains per row, weight of grains per cob (g), weight of cob (g), test weight (g) and yield per plant (g), recorded highest with the crop growing environment on 1st July with 36 °C followed by 11th July date of sowing. Lowest values of all were recorded in 21st July on 34.5 °C of crop growing environments. The result also reveal that Grain yield (kg ha-1) and Stover yield Kg/ha was found highest at 1st July at 36 °C crop growing environment followed by 11th July 35 °C crop growing environment. Among the varieties, Shweta recorded higher yield as compared to other varieties. This study may help to select the suitable sowing time under climatic condition of eastern Uttar Pradesh.