Growth and yield response of maize as affected by different levels of irrigation and nitrogen

A study to determine the effects of different levels of irrigation and nitrogen rates on the growth and yield of maize variety "Golden" was conducted on a sandy loam soil at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during autumn, 2000. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications randomizing nitrogen rates in main plots and irrigation levels in sub plots. Net plot size measured G6 m x 3m. The crop was sown on August 5, 2000. Experimental treatments comprised of (I1) three irrigations during vegetative development + one irrigation at 50% tasseling, (I2) three irrigations during vegetative development + one irrigation at 50% silking + one irrigation during grain filling (I3) three irrigations during vegetative development + one irrigation at 50% tasseling, + one irrigation at 50% silking + one irrigation during grain tilling, while nitrogen rates were control, 100 and 200 kg N ha-1. The highest maize grain yield of 4.91 t ha-1 was obtained in case of I3, treatment (three irrigation during vegetative development + one irrigation at 50% tasseling + one irrigation at 50% silking + one irrigation during grain filling), against the lowest (3.43 t ha-1) by treatment I1 i.e. three irrigation during vegetative development + one irrigation at 50% tasseling. Significantly the highest grain of 4.92 t ha-1 was produced by the application of nitrogen (@ 200 kg ha-1 as against the lowest of 3.45 t ha-1 for control. Days taken to 50% tasseling, silking and number of cobs per plant were significantly enhanced by all nitrogen levels over control. Plant height, number of grain rows per cob, number of grains per row, number of grains per cob, grain weight per cob, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, stalk yield, biological yield and harvest index were significantly affected by irrigation levels and nitrogen rates.