Influence of plant density and zinc foliar application on yield and its components in corn (hybrid K.S.C704)

Subject Areas :

Vagar Mirza ¹ , Shahram Lak ² , Mehran Mombeni ³

1 - Department of Agronomy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAU), Khuzestan, Iran.
2 - Associate Professor of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Islamic Azad University, Khuzestan Science and Research Branch. Ahvaz, Iran.
3 - Departments of Agronomy, Ramhormoz Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAU), Ramhormoz, Iran.

Received: 2013-02-03 Accepted : 2013-05-19 Published : 2014-02-20

Keywords: Plant density, corn, grain yield and yield components, zinc foliar application,

Abstract :

In order to study the Influence of plant density and zinc foliar application on yield and its components in single cross corn (Zea mays L.), an experiment was carried out using factorial method on the basis of RCBD with three replicates in Ahwaz, Iran. Experimental treatments administered included plant density on three levels (D1=65000, D2=75000 and D3=85000 plant per Hectare plant density). The second factor includes: zinc foliar application in four treatments (F0=control, non application of zinc, F1=zinc foliar application in V12 stage, F2=VT stage and F3= zinc foliar split application in two stages of V12 and VT based, on corn developmental growth stages). Results showed that plant density effects on grain yield, total dry matter, harvest index, 1000 grain weight, leaf area index and grain number in ear were significant (p= 0.01). In addition zinc foliar application effects on grain yield, total dry matter, harvest index and 1000 grain weight were significant (p= 0.05). But interaction between of plant density and zinc foliar application had not a significant effect on above character mentioned. The highest grain yield (equal to 9843.3 kg per hectore) was obtained at the density of 75000 plants with zinc foliar split application in two stages of V12 and VT. The lowest grain yield (equal to 7751.9 kg per hectare) was obtained at the density of 65000 plants with non application of zinc. The highest Biological yield (20276.07 kg per hectare) belongs to D2 with non application of zinc and the lowest rate (15960.31kg per hectare) obtained in D1 with F1 treatment. The most Grain number in ear observed in zinc foliar split application treatment in two stages of V12 and VT. Maximum of LAI belong to D2 with F3 treatment. In generally, planting of 75000 plants per Hectare and zinc foliar split application in two stages of V12 and VT, lead to the highest of LAI and harvest index in D2 treatment and finally result to the highest grain yield.