EFFECT OF INDIGENOUS MULCHES ON THE MORPHOPHYSIOLOGICAL AND YIELD ATTRIBUTES OF WHITE MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207, during the period from November 2015 to May 2016 to find out the effect of indigenous mulches on the morpho-physiological and yield attributes of white maize (Zea mays L.). This experiment was comprised of two factors. Factor A: Variety (2): V1 = Shuvra; V2 = KS-510 and Factor B: Indigenous mulch materials (5): T1 = Control (without mulch); T2 = Water hyacinth; T3 = Rice straw; T4 = Rice husk; T5 = Ash. The two factor experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications and the differences between means were separated by both Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (DMRT) and Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at 5% level of probability. Different morphophysiological data were recorded at different Days After Sowing (DAS) from 30 to 120 DAS and yield contributing data were recorded after harvesting of cob. In case of variety the highest plant height at 120DAS (221.34cm) was recorded from V1 and the highest SPAD meter reading at 120DAS (40.05), soil moisture at 30cm depth in 120DAS (28.55%), total dry matter after harvest (381.24gm per plant), stem base diameter at harvest stage (25.07cm) and grain yield (12.963ton per ha) was recorded from V2. In case of indigenous mulch materials the highest values were recorded from T3 for all morphophysiological and yield attributing characters at different DAS. Due to this (T3) mulch material seedlings were quickly emerged and tasselling, silking, cob appearance were hastened by (10-12) days than T1.The highest total dry matter after harvest (511.92gm per plant) was recorded from T3. Weed growth were also the lowest (14.87gm per m2) in T3. The highest grain yield (17.407ton per ha) was recorded from T3. The water retentive capacity of the mulched soil were higher at all the stages of plant growth and ranked in the order of rice straw > water hyacinth > rice husk > ash > control. In case of interaction the highest value of plant height (261.47cm), number of leaves per plant (17), Leaf Area Index (5.58), was recorded from V1T3 at 120DAS. The highest value of SPAD meter reading (72.3) at 60DAS, soil moisture (36.03%) in 30cm depth at 120DAS were recorded from V2T3. The highest value of total dry matter after harvest (544.72gm per plant), stem base diameter at harvest stage (32.41cm) and all yield attributing characters include grain yield(19.043ton per ha) was recorded from V2T3. So, KS-510 variety and rice straw mulch combinedly had outstanding superiority for morphophysiological and yield attributes in white maize over the other indigenous mulches.