Effect of Sowing Dates and Maize Cultivars in Growth and Yield of Maize along with their Agro-Climatic Indices in Nawalparasi, Nepal

Abstract

A field experiment on different maize cultivars planted at different sowing dates were accomplished at Kawasoti-5, Nawalparasi during spring season of 2013 to find suitable sowing date and maize cultivar for the location. Along with this, effect of sowing dates and maize cultivars on different agro-climatic indices were also calculated using formulas. Result showed that RML-4/RML-17 produced higher kernel rows ear^-1 (13.77), kernel per row (30.42) and test weight (244.9 g). Significantly higher grain yield was also found for RML-4/RML-17 (6.03 tha^-1) compared to Poshilo makai-1 (4.73 t ha^-1), Arun-2 (3.55 t ha^-1) and Local (2.92 t ha^-1). Earlier sowing date (7^th April) produced higher kernel row^-1 (27.97), kernel rows ear^-1 (12.89) and 1000 grain weight (230 g). Significantly higher grain yield (5.13t ha^-1) was obtained in earlier sowing date (7^th April). Although the mean ambient temperature during research period was increasing with delayed sowing, days to attain different phenological stages decreased with late sowing. The statistically similar GDD was recorded for different sowing dates and higher PTI values were noticed with delay in planting. Similarly, heat use efficiency (HUE) was found higher in early sowing date. Arun-2 had small reduction in HUE so, it can be considered stable and best cultivar among the tested cultivars.