Effect Of Different Doses Of Nitrogen On Production Of Spring Maize (Zea Mays) In Gulmi, Nepal

The field experiment was carried out to study the effect of different doses of nitrogen on production of spring maize (Arun-2) in Ishma rural municipality, Chaurashi, Gulmi from February to June 2018. The experiment was laid out in single factor Randomized complete Block Design (RCBD) comprising of five levels of nitrogen (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg/ha) as treatment with four replications. The results showed that the different levels of nitrogen significantly affected the biometrical, phenological, yield attributes and yield of maize. The biometrical observations (plant height and leaves number) increased with increased level of nitrogen and found the highest at 120 kg N/ha which were stasticially similar with 90 kg N/ha. The phenological observations (tasseling, silking, physiological maturity, seed fill duration) showed significant relationship with doses of nitrogen but days of emergence and anthesis-silking interval were non-significant with nitrogen dose. The longest days to tasseling and silking were found with control (0 kg/ha) whereas, days to physiological maturity and seed fill duration were the highest at 120 kg/ha dose of nitrogen. Similarly, increasing soil nitrogen favored both plant growth, and the survival of stem-borers. Hence, the highest maize borer infestation was found with 120 kg N/ha followed by the lower doses. Likewise, yield attributing characteristics (cob length, cob diameter, number of kernel/rows, number of kernel row, test weight) were the highest at 120 kg/ha but was similar with 90 kg/ha. Treatment 120 kg/ha produced the highest yield (2.481 t/ha) which was similar with 90 kg/ha (2.394 t/ha). The increment in yield over control was maximum with 120 kg N/ha (44 %) followed by 90 kg N/ha (39 %), 60 kg N/ha (25%), 30 kg N/ha (15 %). Thus, this research showed that the treatment with 90 kg N/ha was the most appropriate for the production of spring maize Arun-2.