Influence of zinc under deficit irrigation on growth and productivity of hybrid maize

Zinc (Zn) is an integral part of many enzymes and proteins required by plants for different physiological functions. The field study was conducted to determine the influence of zinc on growth and yield of maize hybrid under skipping irrigations at different growth stages. The experiment comprised of two factors, irrigation treatment viz regular irrigation system (8 irrigations, control) and skip irrigation at knee high and tasseling stages and Zn application treatments i.e. non-Zn application as control, soil application @ 9, 18 and 27 kg ha-1. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement having three replications. The results showed that application of zinc @ 27 kg ha-1 gave maximum leaf area index (5.16), crop growth rate (20.26 g m-2 day-1), 1000-grain weight (255.03 g), grain yield (5.64 t ha-1) and harvest index (34.5%) than lower doses of zinc and minimum was recorded for control treatment. Similarly, for skipping irrigations, maximum improvement in growth and yield was observed with full irrigations, while irrigation skipped at tasseling stage negatively influenced the growth and yield of hybrid maize than at knee height stage. In conclusion, soil applied zinc at 27 kg ha-1 and normal irrigations helped in improving the growth and yield of autumn planted maize.