Corn Seed Yield and Its Components as Affected by Different Time of Weeding, Seed Osmopriming and Foliar Application of Micronutrient

To study the effect of different times of hand weeding, seed osmopriming and micronutrient foliar application on yield and yield components of corn (Zea mays L.) a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with four replications was carried out at the Research Farm of Shahrood University. Treatments factors were weeding with 3 levels (hand weeding 2, 4 and 6 weeks after crop emergence, seed osmopriming with 2 levels (osmopriming and control) and micronutrients application at 2 levels (foliar application with micronutrient and control). Results showed that the different times of weeding had significant effect on yield and yield components and highest seed yield was obtained with weeding at 6 weeks after emergence. Seed osmopriming significantly increased all of the variables under study. Foliar micronutrient applications also increased seed yield, biological yield, harvest index, height of plant, ear weght, ear length, ear diameter and the 100-seeds weight in comparison to control significantly, but it didn’t effect number of seed rows per ear significantly. The interactions of osmopriming and micro nutrient on grain yield, biological yield, harvest index, height of plant, the number of seed in row, 100-seed weight, weight of corn and ear length were also significant. The interactions of different times of weeding and osmopriming significantly affected only ear diameter. The effect of different times of weeding and foliar application of micronutrient on ear diameter was also significant. Seed yield and ear length were affected by triple interactions of treatments. The results of this study showed that osmopriming, foliar application of micronutrient and hand weeding 6 weeks after emergence all had positive effect on improving growth indices and seed yield of corn.