Evaluation of maize hybrids in Terai and inner Terai ecological belt of Nepal

Abstract

Hybrid is the most economical option to boost up the grain yield of maize, and slowly it is gaining popularity among the farmers of Nepal. In order to identify the potential hybrids suitable for Terai and Inner Terai regions, a set of experiment was conducted on hybrid maize developed by National Maize Research Program (NMRP), Rampur in Coordinated Variety Trials (CVTs) during the winter season of 2014/15 and 2015/16. The experiments were done by using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Each treatment was replicated thrice for each site at Rampur, Belachapi, Tarahara, and Parwanipur. Over the years, genotypes RML-83/RL-197 and RML-4/RL-111 yielded higher than other tested genotypes in Tarahara. Similarly, RL-180/RL-105, RML-87/RL-105, Dekalb double and Rampur Hybrid-6 produced higher grain yield at Belachapi during 2014/15. Genotype RML-4/RML-111 followed by RML-98/RL-105, and Rampur Hybrid-6 yielded higher at Parwanipur during 2015/16. In the case of Rampur, genotypes RML-98/RML-105 had produced higher yield in both the years whereas RML-5/RL-105 during 2014/15, and Rampur Hybrid-2 followed by RML-55/RL-105 were the superior genotypes in terms of grain yield during 2015/16. Those hybrids with higher grain yield in CVTs will be upgraded to Coordinated Farmers Field Trial on Hybrid (CFFTH) and these hybrids might be the potential future hybrids for Terai and Inner Terai of Nepal.

Varietal evaluation of hybrid maize in the summer and winter seasons in terai region of Nepal

“…The ear height ranged from 92-127cm and 136–164cm in winter and summer season respectively. Several researchers [ 7 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 36 ] reported plant architectural traits of maize within this range which supports current finding.…”

“…After harvesting all the ears from each plot was collected, ear count was taken and later converted in hectare ( Equation 1 ) as suggested by Badu-Apraku et al. [ 12 ] which was also followed by others [ 7 , 8 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ] in maize breeding program. Ears from tagged plants were taken and used for recording cob characteristics like Cob length (CL), Cob diameter (CD), Number of grains per row (NOGPR), and Number of rows per cob (NORPC).…”

Performance of hybrid maize at different nitrogen levels in spring season at Badhaiyatal area of Bardiya District, Lumbini Province, Nepal

“…Similarly, higher cob circumference and kernel rows in Pioneer 3522 than in other varieties might be due to a higher leaf area index for more accumulation of biomass and a better capacity to convert photosynthesis into a sink, which increased both cob circumference and number of kernel rows. This finding is similar to the findings of Karn et al (2019) and Koirala et al (2020). Higher cob circumference and the number of kernel rows per ear support a numerically higher grain yield in Pioneer 3522.…”

Performance evaluation and genetic parameters estimation of multi-companies maize hybrids in Lamahi Dang, Nepal

“…Similar significant differences in flowering traits were also reported by Refs. [ [65] , [66] , [67] ].…”