EFFECT OF GEOMETRY AND FERTILITY LEVELS ON PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY OF WINTER MAIZE ( ABILITY OF WINTER MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the winter seasion of 2013-14 and 2014-15 to find out the optimum plant geometry and fertilizer requirement for winter maize. Treatments comprised 4 geometries (60×20, 50×20, 50×45 and 60×15cm) in main plots with 4 fertilizer levels (150-60-00, 150-60-60, 200-75-75 and 250-90-90 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1) in sub-plots were tested in split plot design with three replications. The biometric parameters and yield attributes namely, grains row-1, grains cob-1, shelling %, harvest index, and grain:stover ratio were significantly increased up to geometry of 50×20cm to closer geomtries with fertility level of 200-75-75 kg NP2O5-K2O ha-1 to lower fertility levels. Grain yield (110.68 q ha-1), cob yield (140.67q ha-1), PFPN (61.23), PFPp (159), crop productivity (73.78), profitability (830) and B: C ratio (4.16) significantly higher in 50x20cm to 60x20cm. The interaction effect of geometry and fertility in terms of productivity and profitability of winter maize were significantly increased up to geometry of 50x20cm to 60x20cm with 200-75-75 kg N-P2 O5 -K2 O ha-1 to lower fertility level. The finding might be concluded with adoption of plant density of 1,00,000 plants ha-1 at 50x20cm with 200-75-75 kg N-P2O5-K2 O ha-1 to winter maize proved to be economical in realizing higher grain yield and productivity.