Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on Growth, Yield Attributes, Grain Yield of Hybrid Maize Genotypes

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2008-09  with three hybrids viz., BH 40625, Super 900 M and BH 1576 as main treatments and four nitrogen levels (150,200,250 and 300 kg N ha^-1) as sub treatments.  The results indicated that hybrids BH 40625, Super 900 M and BH 1576 performed almost alike regarding all the growth parameters, yield attributes and grain yield. All the growth parameters except number of green leaves plant^-1, yield attributes, grain yield and protein content in grain increased significantly with each higher level of nitrogen up to 200 kg N ha^-1 Application of 300 kg N ha^-1  did not prove to advantageous over 200 kg N ha^-1. The interaction between hybrids and nitrogen levels was found to be significant only incase of Leaf area index, protein content and nutrient uptake. Maximum grain yield of 7.0 t ha^-1 was obtained with the application 300 kg ha^-1 where as hybrid BH 40625 recorded 6.7 t ha^-1  in comparison to Super 900 M ( 6.5 t ha^-1) and  BH 1576 ( 6.4 t ha^-1 ).