EFFECT OF POTASSIUM AND FOLIAR NAPHTHALENE ACETIC ACID APPLICATION RATES FOR ENHANCING YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF MAIZE

Abstract

A study entitled “Effect of potassium and foliar naphthalene acetic acid application rates for enhancing yield and yield components of maize” was carried out at Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar during summer 2024. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications. CS-220 maize hybrid was sown at the rate of 25 kg ha^-1. There were two factors in this experiment, naphthalene acetic acid (0, 40, 80 and 120 ml ha^-1) and potassium (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha^-1). According to the results of experiment, naphthalene acetic acid and potassium had a significant effect on yield and its components of maize hybrid. Application of naphthalene acetic acid at the rate of 120 ml ha^-1 significantly increased days to tasseling (55), silking (65), physiological maturity (96), leaves plant^-1 (15), leaf area plant^-1 (3784 cm²), taller plants (176 cm), ears density (8), grains ear^-1 (340), thousand grain weight (230 g), biological yield (11549 kg ha^-1), grain yield (4927 kg ha^-1) and harvest index (43 %).  While at the application of potassium levels, higher days to tasseling (55), silking (65), physiological maturity (96), leaves plant^-1 (14), leaf area plant^-1 (3853 cm²), taller plants (176 cm), ears density (8), grains ear^-1 (341), thousand grain weight (233 g), biological yield (12508 kg ha^-1), grain yield (4730 kg ha^-1) was recorded at 90 kg K ha^-1 while higher harvest index (38 %) was noted at 30 kg K ha^-1.  The application of naphthalene acetic acid at 120 ml ha^-1 applied as a foliar spray and potassium at 90 kg ha^-1 gave significantly high yield and yield components of CS-220 maize hybrid.