YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF MAIZE AS AFFECTED BY SOWING DATES AND SOWING METHODS
Abstract
The experiment was conducted at the Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Peshawar during kharif 2008 to evaluate the effect of sowing dates and methods on maize in a randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement. Sowing methods (broadcast and line sowing) effects were allotted to main plot while sowing dates (i.e. 6 th, 16th and 26th of June and July, respectively) were kept in sub plot levels. Planting dates affected days to maturity, number of plants at harvest ha-1 , biological yield, grains ear-1 , grain yield and thousand grains weight significantly. Maize took more days to maturity (115), biological yield (12010 kg ha-1 ) and thousand grains weight (234.55g) from early sown plots (6th June). Higher number of plants at harvest (74889 plants ha-1 ) was recorded from 6th July sowing while higher number of grains ear-1 (503.86) and grain yield (2906.7 kg ha-1 ) were recorded from 26th June sowing. Sowing methods significantly affected the days to maturity, number of plants at harvest ha-1 , biological yield, grains ear-1 , grain yield and thousand grains weight significantly. Higher days to maturity (98.3), plants at harvest (73703 plants ha-1 ) and biological yield (10751 kg ha-1 ) were recorded from broadcast sowing while higher number of grains ear-1 (412.67), grain yield (2817 kg ha-1 ) and thousand grains weight (220.67 g) were recorded from line sowing. No interaction effects of sowing dates and methods on the parameters under study were observed except biological, grain yields and thousand grain weight. It was concluded that planting on 26th June resulted in higher grains ear-1 and grain yield and the plants which were planted in lines resulted higher grains ear-1 , grain yield and thousand grains weight and thus are better for higher outcome from maize.
