12. Impact of integrated potassium management on plant growth, dry matter partitioning and yield of different maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of hybrids (DK-Garanon, Pioneer-3025, WS-666 and Pioneer-3164) and potassium ratios (100% organic, 80% organic + 20% inorganic, 60% organic + 40% inorganic, 40% organic + 60% inorganic, 20% organic + 80% inorganic, 100% inorganic and control treatment) on plant growth, dry matter partitioning and yield of maize crop during summer 2016. Poultry manure (PM) was used as organic source while sulphate of potash (SOP) as inorganic source of K (applied @ of 80 kg ha^-1). The results revealed that highest single leaf area (402.7 cm²), leaf area index (4), total dry matter plant^-1 (338.6g), stem weight plant^-1 (76.8g), leaves weight plant^-1 (45.1g), ears weight plant^-1 (187.3g), biological yield (14901 kg ha^-1) and grain yield (4898 kg ha^-1) were recorded for DK-Garanon hybrid. Regarding potassium ratios highest single leaf area (422.5 cm²), leaf area index (4.14) , total dry matter plant^-1 (368.3g), stem weight plant^-1 (83.6g), leaves weight plant^-1 (52.3g), ears weight plant^-1 (203.8g), biological yield (15213 kg ha^-1) and grain yield (5362 kg ha^-1) were recorded in plots which received potassium ratio (40% organic + 60% inorganic) followed by plots which received K ratio (60% organic + 40% inorganic) while lowest values for the studied traits were recorded in control plot. It can be concluded from the experiment that application of K @ of 80 kg ha^-1 from both organic and inorganic sources at the ratio of (40% organic + 60% inorganic) to hybrid DK-Garanon resulted in higher yield. 

Keywords: Dry matter plant^-1; Grain yield; Leaf area; Leaf area index; Poultry manure; Sulphate of potash

http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2018.700148