Abstract:
The experiment was performed in pot at the net house and laboratory, Department
of Agcultural Chemistry, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during
November 2016 to March 2017 and to assess the effect of arsenic on growth, yield
and arsenic content in leaf and grain of maize (Zea mays). The experiment was
conducted using two varieties viz. V
1
=BARI maize 7, V
= Pacific 339 and five
arsenic levels viz. T
0
= 0 mg As/kg soil, T
1
2
= 20 mg As/kg soil, T
= 40 mg As/kg
soil, T
3
=60 mg As/kg soil and T
4
2
=80 mg As/kg soil.Arsenic was added as sodium
arsenate (Na
2
HAsO
4
.7H
O).The experiment was set in completely randomized
design (CRD) having two factors with three replications. Results showed that
variety had produced plant height, number of leaves per plant, total dry mater,
number of cob per plant, number of grain per plant, grain yield per plant.The taller
plant was found in Pacific 339. BARI maize 7 achieved maximum number of cob
per plant, number of grain per cob, grain yield per plant. Among the two varieties
the higher grain yield per plant (31.79 g) was found in BARI maize 7. Different
arsenic dose significantly affected all growth characters.The maximum plant
height, number of leaf per plant, total dry matter , number of cob per plant, number
of grain per cob were recorded at 0 mg As/kg of soil levels of arsenic. The highest
grain yield (58.54g) per plant was also recorded at 0 mg As/kg of soil level of
arsenic. Among the combined effects of varieties and arsenic, highest grain yield
per plant (63.75 g) was observed from the combination of BARI maize 7 at 0 mg
As/kg of soil arsenic level. Among the two varieties, the N content in leaf was
highest (0.87 %) in BARI maize 7. The highest K content, P content and As content
in leaf was found in Pacific 339. The highest N, P and K content recorded in shoot
of BARI maize 7. The As content in stem was highest in Pacific 339. The highest
N, P and K content recorded in grain of BARI maize 7. The As content in grain was
highest in Pacific 339. Amount of arsenic concentration was increased by both
varieties significantly with the increasing arsenic doses in soil.
