Maize (Zea mays L.) is considered as high nutrient demanding crop and needs balanced nutrition. It is also regarded sensitive to zinc deficiency. Zinc is mostly deficient in soils and application of zinc fertilizer is required to explore its full potential. Crop species and even cultivars within species vary in their Zn requirement. A field experiment was conducted during spring 2011 at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan to evaluate the comparative efficacy of Zn uptake and grain yield in three maize hybrids (Pioneer-32 F 10, Monsanto-6525 and Hycorn-8288) through the application of Zn in the form of ZnSO 4. The ZnSO 4 treatments comprised; soil application at the time of sowing @ 12 kg ha-1 , foliar application at vegetative stage (9 leaf stage) @ 1% ZnSO 4 solution and foliar application at reproductive stage (anthesis) @ 1% ZnSO 4 solution and one treatment was kept as a control. The experimental results showed substantial difference in yield and yield contributing parameters such as plant population at harvest, number of grains per cob, biological yield, grain yield and harvest index. Statistically maximum grain yield (8.76t ha-1) was obtained with foliar spray of ZnSO 4 at 9-leaf stage (Zn 2) in case of Monsanto-6525. Foliar spray of ZnSO 4 increased 38% and soil application gave 23.7% more grain yield than control treatment. Foliar spray of ZnSO 4 at 9-leaf stage in Monsanto-6525 hybrid produced higher grain yield and net field benefit. Thus foliar application of Zn fertilizers has a positive effect on economic and biological yield of maize crop.
Deteriorating soil fertility and gradually decreasing rice productivity along with higher greenhouse gas emissions from paddy fields have emerged as serious threats to the sustainability of rice production and food security. Rice production in the subtropical environment in Bangladesh is mostly dependent on synthetic inorganic fertilizer to maintain productivity; however, the inorganic fertilizer has negative effects on global warming. Climate-smart and resilient agricultural production systems are major concerns nowadays to meet sustainable development goals. The study was conducted to evaluate the optimum rate and source of organic amendments on rice productivity and soil fertility along with CH4 emission. A total of nine nutrient combinations were used in the study. The CH4 emission, soil redox potential (Eh), soil pH, soil nitrogen and organic carbon, available phosphorus, rice grain and straw were greatly affected by the application of different rates and sources of the nutrient. However, the soil exchangeable K content, plant height, and harvest index were not affected. Among the treatments, the application of 75% recommended fertilizer (RF) + biosolid 2 t ha−1 (T3) was the most effective and showed the superior performance in terms of available P (12.90 ppm), the number of grains panicle−1 (121), and 1000-grain weight (24.6g), rice grain, and straw yield along with the moderate CH4 emission (18.25 mg m−2h−1). On the other hand, the lowest soil Eh (−158 mV) and soil pH (6.65) were measured from the treatment T3. The finding of this study revealed that the application of 75% of RF + biosolid 2 t ha−1 can be recommended as the preferable soil amendment for boosting rice yield, reduce CH4 emissions, and sustainably maintain soil fertility. Furthermore, this finding may help to introduce preferable soil amendment doses, which will contribute to boosting rice productivity and economic turnouts of the farmers.
An increasing water crisis, as well as the unavailability and high cost of labor, in Pakistan has forced rice-growers to plant rice directly into the field. However, severe weed infestation causes disastrous effects on the productivity of this rice system. In this study, three herbicides (pendimethalin, penoxsulam and bispyribac-sodium) were evaluated for weed control in direct-planted rice on a sandy loam soil. Weedy check and weed-free plots were established for comparison.Weed infestation decreased the rice yield by 75.2%. However, the application of herbicides suppressed the weed infestation, with a simultaneous increase in the rice yield. The postemergence application of bispyribac-sodium was the most effective herbicide in reducing the total weed density and dry weight over the weedy check, followed by penoxsulam and pendimethalin, respectively. Bispyribac-sodium increased the number of productive tillers, 1000-grain weight, number of grains per panicle and grain yield over the control, as well as improved the water productivity and economic returns of direct-planted rice. The weeds' proliferation increased the number of unproductive tillers and decreased the plant height. In conclusion, the postemergence application of bispyribac-sodium can be used effectively to control weeds, increase water productivity and improve the economic returns and yield of direct-planted rice on a sandy loam soil in Pakistan.
A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different nitrogen management methods on yield, yield components and quality attributes of maize hybrids (single cross-6142 and double cross-4444) under irrigated conditions. Nitrogen dose is met either by PM (poultry manure) or urea according to each treatment. PM was incorporated at the time of presowing irrigation whereas fertigation method at knee height stage and foliar spray at flowering were use for the application of urea. Results showed that plant height, cob diameter, number of grains per cob, grain yield and biological yield were significantly affected by the hybrids. Significantly, higher plant height, cob diameter, number of grains per cob, grain yield and biological yield were produced by single cross-6142. There was no significant difference occur between both hybrids on seed oil and protein contents. N management by the application of T3 (60% N from PM + 38.5% N from urea through fertigation + 1.5% N from urea through foliar application) produced significantly more plant height, cob diameter, number of grains per cob, grain yield, biological yield, seed protein and seed oil contents. The interaction of single cross-6142 and T3 (60% N from PM + 38.5% N from urea through fertigation + 1.5% N from urea through foliar application) was found superior in production of more plant height, cob diameter and number of grains per cob. However, interaction between maize hybrids and N application methods for grain yield, biological yield, seed protein and oil contents was reported nonsignificant. It can be concluded that single cross hybrid-6142) and T3 (60% N from PM, 38.5% N from urea through fertigation and 1.5% N from urea through foliar application) could be used successfully for improving maize yield under the irrigated conditions.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.