Correlation and Regression Studies of Organic Maize Grown Under Different Doses of Active Silica

Abstract

Chemical fertilization creates the ill effects on soil health and environment especially after green revolution. To mitigate such effects, the adoption of organic farming might be an ecologically viable option. The present experiment was therefore, carried out with aim to study the effects of active silica on growth and yield attributes and their interrelationship with each other during the Kharif season of 2018 and 2019 at Organic Unit of Instructional Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur (Rajasthan). The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications consisting of 36 treatment combinations of six soil applications in main plots (0, 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 kg/ha) and six foliar applications of active silica in subplots (No spray, water spray, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0%). The analysis showed that dry matter accumulation at 60, 75 DAS, and harvest increase with plant height at 60, 75 DAS and harvest, respectively, grains/cob and test weight showed positive correlation with grain yield. Stover yield also increased with increasing plant height and dry matter accumulation. Total N, P and K uptake significantly and positively increased with increasing biological yield; and protein content in grain increased with increasing N content. Si uptake increased significantly and positively with increasing Si content at 60, 75 DAS and harvest.