Influence of Zinc and Gibberellic Acid on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during kharif  season of 2022 on Maize crop at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj, (U.P.), to study the “Influence of Zinc and Gibberellic acid on growth and yield of Maize ( Zea mays L.)” The treatments consisted of 3 levels of Zinc (Soil application 20 kg/ha, Foliar application 0.5% and Soil application 10 kg/ha + Foliar 0.25%) and Foliar application of Gibberellic Acid (50, 100 and 150 ppm) and a control. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 10 treatments and each were replicated thrice. The results revealed that treatment 9 with Soil application of  Zinc (10 kg/ha) + Foliar  (0.25%) with combination of GA3 at 150 ppm produced higher plant height (187.73 cm), more dry weight (184.05 g), maximum number of cobs per plant (1.60), maximum number of rows per cob (14.67), maximum number of grains per row (26.33), test weight (215.78 g), higher grain yield (6.76 t/ha), higher stover yield (13.80) and higher harvest index (32.87%). Similarly, maximum gross return (2,18,280.00 INR/ha), net return ( 1,49,997.00 INR/ha) and highest B:C ratio (2.20) was also recorded in treatment 9 with Soil application of  Zinc (10 kg/ha) + Foliar (0.25%) with combination of GA3 at 150 ppm.