Root development, allometry and productivity of maize hybrids under terminal drought sown by varying method
2013
Hussain, M. (Bahauddin Zakariya Univ., Multan (Pakistan). Dept. of Agronomy) | Bashir, W. (Bahauddin Zakariya Univ., Multan (Pakistan). Dept. of Agronomy) | Farooq, S. (Bahauddin Zakariya Univ., Multan (Pakistan). Dept. of Agronomy) | Rehim, A. (Bahauddin Zakariya Univ., Multan (Pakistan). Dept. of Soil Science)
Water deficiency at critical growth stages of maize, tasseling in particular, hampered the crop productivity; while maize planted on ridges resulted in higher yield due to well developed root system. Therefore, a field study was designed to evaluate the effect of varying sowing methods on root development, allometry and yield of maize subjected to drought at tasseling. Two maize hybrids viz. Hi-Corn-11 Plus and NK-6621 were sown on flat seedbed, ridges and beds; and water stress was imposed at tasseling [Tilde 50% field capacity (FC)] with well watered conditions (Tilde 75% FC) were taken as control. Drought at tasseling stage hampered the yield and related traits owing to poorly developed root system in both maize hybrids, although hybrids differ slightly in their response. Ridge sown maize out yielded compared with other sowing methods both under well watered and drought conditions due to well developed root system i.e., longer roots with more proliferation. Moreover, ridge sown crop also observed higher leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR) in both hybrids under well watered and drought stress at tasseling. In crux, maize sown on ridges out yielded both under well watered and drought stress at tasseling owing to well developed root system, which leads to notable expansion in allometric and yield related traits.
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