Abstract :
An explorative experimental trial was conducted to study the effect of different levels of phosphorus on the yield and yield components of maize in North-East Alluvial plains of Bihar, was conducted at Regional Research Station, Agwanpur, Saharsa (India). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications having a plot size of 5.40 m x 6.7 m with row to row distance of 0.75 m and plant to plant distance of 0.25 m. The levels of phosphorus were 0 (control), 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1. Results indicated that the different levels of phosphorus significantly affected maize plant height, number of cobs plant-1, number of grains cob-1 and grain yield, however, the effect was non-significant on number of plants m-2, thousand grain weight and biological yield of maize. Application of phosphorus at the rate of 100 kg ha-1 resulted in maximum plant height (161 cm), number of cobs plant-1 (1.25), number of grain cob-1 (343), thousand grain weight (253 g), grain yield (2535 kg ha-1) and biological yield (8398 kg ha-1) as compared to the minimum values in control plots i.e. 148cm, 0.88, 290, 197 g, 1370 kg ha-1 and 6041 kg ha-1, respectively. It is concluded that phosphorus should be applied at the rate of 100 kg ha-1 for best grain yield in the agro-climatic conditions of Bihar.
Keyword :
Phosphorus, Zea mays L., plant height, grain yield