Cycocel and micronutrients on yield of (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

This investigation followed a split-plot factorial design involved three phases of water deficit stress (silking stage, blister stage and a control). Sub-treatments included micronutrients (0, 1000, and 1500 g ha-1) and Cycocel (0, 442.5 and 885 mg L-1). This study aimed to water deficit stress negatively impacted the yield and yield components of maize. Moreover, applying micronutrients and Cycocel (CCC) through foliar application at concentrations of 1500 g ha-1 and 885 mg L-1 also led to a notable enhancement in these characteristics. In the absence of stress and for untreated plants (control), the average seed yield was 8375.55 kg ha-1 during the mentioned two years, as a result of simultaneous foliar spraying with a concentration of 1500 g ha-1 of micronutrients and 885 mg L-1 of CCC, the two-year average grain yield had increased by 32 %. In the conditions of water limitation in the stage of silking, the two-year average yield of seeds had decreased by 82.5 % compared to the conditions without stress. The highest average seed yield (5340 kg ha-1) was obtained during the mentioned two years under the conditions of foliar spraying of 1500 g ha-1 of micronutrients and 885 mg L-1 of CCC, which was an increase of 3.8 times compared to the two-year average control. According to the results of this study: the highest yield in stress conditions was obtained from micronutrient (1500 g ha-1) foliar application and CCC (885mg L-1)