INFLUENCE OF VARYING NITROGEN LEVELS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY OF HYBRID MAIZE (Zea mays)

WOS: 000402838800001Present investigation was carried out at Natore Sugar Mills area, Natore, Bangladesh during 2014-15 to evaluate the growth and yield responses of hybrid maize varieties under different levels of nitrogen fertilization. Two hybrid maize varieties viz. BARI hybrid maize-7 and BARI hybrid maize-9 were tested under four nitrogen levels (N-0= without external nitrogen supply, N-1= 115 kg N ha(-1) , N-2= 230 kg N ha(-1) , and N-3= 345 kg N ha(-1)). All recommendations agronomic practices were used for both the variety. Yield and yield traits (plant height, plant girth, total leaves plant(-1) , effective leaves plant(-1) , non-effective leaves plant(-1) , total root plant(-1) ,straw weight plant(-1) ,cob length, grain free cob, cob girth, grain line cob(-1) , total grain cob(-1) , grain number line(-1) ,1000-grains weight, grain weight cob(-1) ,grain yield, straw yield and biological yield) were measured during and on the completion of the study. BARI hybrid maize-9 achieved maximum yield (10.99 t ha(-1)) and it was followed by the BARI hybrid maize-7 (10.37 t ha(-1)). Results of study revealed that yield traits and final yield significantly increased with increasing nitrogen fertilizer from 0 to 345 kg ha(-1). Among various tested N-fertilizer doses, highest grain yield was obtained from the plot treated with N-3 treatment (345 kg ha(-1)) but it was not statistically differing from the N-2 treatment (230 kg ha(-1)). Therefore, N-2 treatment (230 kg ha(-1)) could be recommended for variety BARI hybrid maize-9 as the best economical nitrogen level for maximum economical yield of maize