Performance of hybrid maize at different irrigation levels and spacing under subsurface drip irrigation

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season, 2013 to study the effect of different levels of irrigation and crop geometry on growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of maize. Progressive increase in yield attributes like cob length, cob girth, kernel weight per cob and hundred grain weight was observed due to increased irrigation levels from I1 (IW: CPE ratio of 0.6) to I3 (IW: CPE ratio of 1.0). IW: CPE ratio of 1.0 produced significantly higher grain and stover yield which was at par with I2 (IW: CPE ratio of 0.8). With regard to crop geometry, yield attributes like longest cobs, highest cob girth, higher kernel weight per cob and increased hundred seed weight were obtained at a spacing of 30/90×20 cm which was at par with 60×20 cm and higher grain yield was obtained at a spacing of 30/90×20 cm.