EVALUATION OF HYBRID AND LOCAL MAIZE VARIETIES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE FERTILIZER REQUIREMENTS

Abstract

The fodder scarcity is the major constraint to achieve potential livestock production; and it is high time to introduce high yielding fodder and cereal varieties to ensure good animal health. Two maize Hybrids (Hycorn-11+, Hycron-984) were compared for their performance with local maize (Afgoy) and optimized their NPK requirement evaluating NPK levels of 75-50-50, 100-65-60, 125-80-70 kg ha-1). The hybrids out-yielded local variety of maize regardless the fertility levels. Hycorn-984, Hycorn-11+, Afgoy produced cob girth of 5.8±0.09, 5.9±0.03, 5.6±0.04 cm; cob weight 82.9±0.61, 79.0±0.42, 73.4±0.85 g; grains/cob 176.4±3.73, 167.4±4.81, 157.2±2.29; grain weight/plant 171.0±2.55, 171.2±2.42, 145.0±2.14g and grain yields of 3152.7±33.11, 3140.0±28.10, 2483.3±30.00 kg ha-1, respectively. The hybrids were not only out yielded conventional maize but also found to be more responsive to higher fertilizer dose and NPK @125-80-70 kg/ha resulted in highest yield (3237kg/ha); while lower NPK levels attributed to reduced growth and yield.