Effect of Sowing Dates and Cultivars on Growth, Phenology, Yield Attributes, Yield and Economics of Summer Maize (Zea mays L.) under Western Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the summer seasons of 2025 and 2026 at the Agronomy Research Farm, R.S.M. (P.G.) College, Dhampur, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate the performance of maize cultivars under different sowing dates. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications, comprising four sowing dates (SD₁: 01 March, SD₂: 11 March, SD₃: 21 March and SD₄: 31 March) assigned to the main plots and four cultivars (V₁: J.H.-3459, V₂: Pusa Early Hybrid Makka-2, V₃: Malviya Hybrid Makka-2 and V₄: Deccan-115) assigned to the sub-plots. The crop was sown at 60 cm × 20 cm spacing with a seed rate of 20 kg ha⁻¹ and fertilised with 175:60:30 kg N: P₂O₅: K₂O ha⁻¹. The results revealed that sowing dates and cultivars significantly influenced growth parameters, phenological characters, yield attributes, grain yield and economics. Among sowing dates, SD₁ (01 March) recorded significantly higher leaf area (6182.8 cm² plant⁻¹), leaf area index (4.820), cob length (15.9 cm), cob girth (12.4 cm), number of grains (24.9 row⁻¹) and grain yield (6371.3 kg ha⁻¹) during 2025. Similarly, during 2026, SD₁ recorded the maximum leaf area (5992.3 cm² plant⁻¹), LAI (4.788), cob length (17.6 cm), cob girth (14.1 cm) and grain yield (6167.6 kg ha⁻¹). Among cultivars, V₄ (Deccan-115) exhibited superior performance, recording the maximum grain yield (6353.5 kg ha⁻¹ in 2025 and 6587.7 kg ha⁻¹ in 2026), stover yield and economic returns. The study concluded that sowing on 01 March with cultivar Deccan-115 is the most suitable combination for achieving higher productivity and profitability of summer maize under the agro-climatic conditions of Western Uttar Pradesh.