Response of Maize Zea mays L Hybrids to Fertility Levels and Different Storage Treatments

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to study the response of different maize hybrids to newlinevaried fertility levels in vertisol under irrigation at Agricultural Research Station Mudhol, newlineKarnataka state during kharif (rainy) seasons of 2010 and 2011. Treatments consisted of newlinethree maize hybrids (QPM-1, Pinnacle and Arjun) in main plots, three NPK levels (100%, newline150%, and 200% of recommended dose) in sub plots and sulphur levels (20, 30, 40kg/ ha) in newlinesub-sub plots. After harvest of first year, the treatments were subjected six storage treatments newline(cow dung ash at 30%, wood ash at 30%, Diatomaceous Earth at 0.3%, Nimbecidine at 1%, newlinesweet flag at2% and control). newlineAmong the three hybrids studied, Pinnacle receiving 200% NPK together with 40 kg newlinesulphur ha-1 recorded significantly higher grain yield (13200 kg ha-1), net returns (Rs.119100 newlineha-1) and B:C (3.81) while QPM-1 in general, produced the lowest grain yield (8046 kg ha-1), newlinenet returns (82190) and B:C (2.61) compared to other treatment combinations and was newlinefollowed by 30 kg S (12190 kg ha-1) by the same hybrid with similar NPK levels. newlineHigher amount of nitrogen and potash were taken up at 200% NPK along with 30 or newline40 kg sulphur whereas higher uptake of phosphorous was seen at 200% NPK with 30 kg newlinesulphur. Highest uptake of sulphur was noticed with application of 40kg sulphur along with newline200% NPK. newlineIn the storage study, the highest weight loss of grains was recorded when maize newlinegrains were stored without any storage treatment (28.30%) and the lowest loss was recorded newlinein sweet flag (5.07%) followed by diatomaceous earth (5.32%), nimbecidine (5.60%), cow newlinedung ash (5.92%) and wood ash (6.17%) in all hybrids grown under different NPK levels and newlinestorage treatments. However, the storage treatments did not have any significant effect newlinebetween fertility levels and maize hybrids. newline