INFLUENCE OF POTASSIUM ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF HYBRID MAIZE (Zea mays) IN KHARIF I

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University farm, Dhaka to study the influence of potassium on the growth and yield of hybrid maize during April to July, 2019. The experiment consisted of two factors. Factor A: Maize hybrid variety (2); V 1 : SAU Hybrid Vutta 1 and V : SAU Hybrid Vutta 2 and B: Potassium levels (6); K 0 : Control, K 1 : 60 kg K ha -1 2 + Recommended Fertilizers (RF), K : 90 kg K ha -1 + RF, K 3 : 120 kg K ha -1 + RF, K 4 : 150 kg K ha -1 + RF and K 5 2 : 180 kg K ha + RF. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design with three replications. Plant height, dry matter weight plant -1 , number of leaves plant -1 , leaf area plant , dry matter weight plant -1 ,growth rate plant ,number of grains row cob -1 -1 , cob length plant , number of grains row -1 -1 -1 , cob circumference plant , number of grains cob , unfilled area cob -1 (%), 1000 grain weight, husk weight cob -1 , shell weight cob , grain weight cob -1 , cob weight plant -1 , grain yield, stover yield, biological yield and harvest index were compared for different treatments. Results of the investigation revealed that, variety and potassium levels had significant influence on most of the growth, yield contributing characters and yield of maize. The maximum grain yield (11.94 t ha ) was recorded at SAU hybrid Vhutta 2 (V 1 ) was recorded at SAU hybrid Vhutta 1 (V 2 -1 -1 ) and the minimum grain yield (10.54 t ha ). The maximum grain yield (13.61 t ha -1 ) was observed from 180 kg K ha -1 + RF (K 1 ) treatment and minimum grain yield (7.18 t ha -1 ) was observed from control (K 0 5 ) treatment. The maximum grain yield (13.92 t ha -1 ) was observed where SAU hybrid Vhutta-2 cultivated alone with 180 kg K ha -1 + RF treatment combination (V 2 K 5 ) were applied

and minimum grain yield (6.697 t ha -1

) was observed where SAU hybrid Vhutta 1 cultivated along with control fertilizers treatment combination (V 0 K 1 ) were applied.

Treatment combination V

produced 51.89 % more grain yield over V 1 K treatment combination. So it may be concluded that SAU hybrid Vhutta 2 along with 180 kg K ha 0 -1 + Recommended Fertilizers could be a best production package to produce higher grain yield of maize.