Effect of planting density on phenology, growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.)

The present study investigated the effect of planting density on plant growth and yield of maize varieties. An experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Farms Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan using randomized complete block (RCB) design with split plot arrangement having four replications. The experiment consist of four maize varieties viz., Azam, Pahari, Jalal-2003 and Sarhad white as main plot factor and three plant densities of 45000, 55000 and 65000 plants per ha as sub plot factor. Analysis of the data indicated that planting density had a significant (p less than 0.05) effect on leaf area index, plant barrenness (%), plant height, ear length, number of grains per ear, grain weight per ear, 1000 grain weight, biological yield, stover yield, grain yield and harvest index and non-significant (p greater than 0.05) on number of days to emergence, emergence m-2, number of days to 50% tasseling and silking. Maximum leaf area index, barren plants, plant height, biological yield, stover yield, grain yield and harvest index was recorded from planting density of 65000 plants per ha. Maize varieties significantly (p less than 0.05) affected emergence m-2 , days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking, leaf area index, plant height, ear length, number of grains per ear, grain weight per ear, biological yield, stover yield, grain yield and harvest index. Maximum ear length was recorded from variety Azam. Maximum days to 50% tasseling and silking were recorded from Jalal-2003. Similarly, emergence m-2, leaf area index, plant height, number of grains per ear, grain weight per ear, biological yield, stover yield, grain yield and harvest index was maximum in Sarhad white. The combined effect of Sarhad white with planting density of 65000 plants per ha produced highest grain weight per cob, biological yield, stover yield, grain yield and harvest index.