EFFECT OF MINERAL AND FARM YARD MANURE NITROGEN ON GROWTH AND YIELD COMPONENT OF MAIZE UNDER VARIOUS TILLAGE IMPLEMENTS

Abstract

Nitrogen is vital and primary nutrient for plant growth and major constituent of chlorophyll, the compound by which plants utilize sunlight energy to produce starch from water and carbon dioxide (i.e. photosynthesis), protein formation, and influences plant development. The research was conducted to assess the effect of nitrogen levels and tillage implements on the maize growth and yield at Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar during 2024. The experiment was designed in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement in four replications. The experiment was consisted of two-factors in which one factor was tillage implements. The tillage implements were operated in main plots i.e. Mouldboard plough as (Deep tillage, DT), field cultivator (Shallow tillage, FC) and Rotavator (minimum tillage, RT). The second factor was nitrogen levels in the sub plots i.e. the application of urea (120 and 180 kg ha^-1) as well as farmyard manure (FYM) i.e. 12 and 18 tons ha^-1 incorporated before sowing as well as control. Maize variety (Azam) was sowing on ridges in the month of July 2024. Based on experimental results DT increased numbers of leaves plant^-1 (13), leaf area (476.4 cm²), plant height (203 cm), number of ears (6.1 m^-2), grains ear^-1 (349), thousand grain weight (256 g), biological yield (10429 kg ha^-1) and grain yield (3518 kg ha^-1) than the either FC or RT. High mineral nitrogen applied at the rate of 180 kg ha^-1 delayed tasseling (55 days), silking (62 days), physiological maturity (113 days), increased numbers of leaves plant^-1 (14 leaves), leaf area (492.1 cm²), plant height (212 cm), ear length  (17 cm), number of rows ear^-1 (14 rows), number of ears (6.5 m^-2), grain ear^-1 (390 grains), thousand grain weight (273 g), biological yield (11110 kg ha^-1) and grain yield (3983 kg ha^-1) as compared to control plot. From the results it was concluded that the deep tillage i.e. mould board plough and high mineral nitrogen (urea – N) application at rate of 180 kg ha^-1 is suitable for increasing the grain yield and yield components of maize crop in experimental location.