Influence of environmental modifications and fertility levels on growth and yield of quality protein maize (QPMH-1)

The present research was undertaken at Agronomy Research Farm of Division of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-K, Wadura, Sopore during Kharif 2023 with the objectives of studying the effect of sowing dates and fertility levels on growth parameters, yield attributes, yield, of Quality Protein Maize. The experiment comprised of three Standard Meteorological Week viz, 16th week, 19th week, 22nd week assigned to main plots and four fertility levels including control, 75% RDF, 100% RDF and 125% RDF assigned to sub plots and replicated thrice. The variety tested was Shalimar QPMH-1 and the experiment was laid out in split plot design. The results of the experiment revealed that the different sowing dates and fertility levels had a significant impact on growth, yield parameters, yield of Shalimar QPMH-1. Among the three Standard Meteorological Week, 19th week sowing recorded significantly higher values of growth characteristics, yield attributing characters Significantly higher values of grain yield (5.39 t/ha), Stover yield (6.46 t/ha), biological yield (11.85 t/ha), harvest index (45.33%) and shelling percentage (62.47%) was recorded in 19th week sowing as compared to other sowing dates. All the fertility levels enhanced the growth parameters and yield of the crop compared to control treatment. Among the fertility levels, F3 (125% RDF) treatment recorded significantly higher values of growth characteristics and yield attributing characters. Application of NPK @ 125% RDF recorded significantly higher values of grain yield (5.61 t/ha), Stover yield (6.83 t/ha), biological yield (12.44 t/ha), harvest index (45.04%) and shelling percentage (61.8%) as compared to other fertility levels and control. Significantly lowest values of growth characteristics, yield contributing characters and yield was recorded in control treatment. Therefore, from the present study it can be concluded that sowing of QPM on 19th week with the application of 125% RDF is promising for achieving higher productivity in quality protein maize under temperate conditions of Kashmir valley.