Performance of winter maize under different rates of nitrogen and plant population in Southern Telangana region

A field experiment was conducted during winter season (rabi 2008) to study the influence of different rates of nitrogen and plant populations on growth, yield, grain quality and economics of cultivating hybrid winter maize in Southern Telangana region. Growth characters like plant height, leaf area index and dry matter production/plant and yield attributes such as cob length, cob girth, shelling percentage, test weight, weight of cobs and protein content increased significantly with increase in nitrogen level from 150 to 250 kg/ha. Increase in plant population density from 67,000 to 1,11,000 plants/ha recorded increase in plant height, leaf area index, while it caused decline in dry matter/plant, cob length, cob girth, shelling percentage and test weight. Days to silking and physiological maturity were inversely proportional to nitrogen level, while these were found directly proportional to plant population. Grain yield with 250 kg N/ha boosted significantly by 12 and 6% over 150 and 200 kg N/ha, respectively, while stover yield increased by 8 and 4%. Plant population of 1,11,000 recorded significant increase in grain yield by 26, 18 and 10% over 67,000, 87,000 and 89,000 plants/ha, while stover yield increased at 22, 19 and 5%. Net returns (Rs. 48089) and benefit : cost ratio (3.79) were significantly superior with 250 kg N/ha+1,11,000 plant population over other combinations.