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Pak. J. Bot., 42(6): 4051-4061, 2010. |
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Updated: 23-12-10 | ||||
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LEVELS AND TIME OF PHOSPHORUS APPLICATION INFLUENCE GROWTH, DRY MATTER PARTITIONING AND HARVEST INDEX IN MAIZE
AMANULLAH1*, MUHAMMAD ZAKIRULLAH1, MUHAMMAD TARIQ3, KHALID NAWAB4, AMIR ZAMAN KHAN1, FARHATULLAH2, ZAHIR SHAH3, AMANULLAH JAN1, SHAD KHAN KHALIL1, MUHAMMAD TARIQ JAN1, M. SAJID5, ZAHID HUSSAIN1 AND HIDYAT-UR-RAHMAN2
Abstract: Phosphorus (P) levels and its time of application is considered some of the most important factor affecting crop growth, dry matter accumulation and harvest index in maize (Zea mays L.). Research on the interactive effects of levels into time of P application is lacking in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. A field experiment was therefore conducted to investigate impact of P levels (30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1) and time of P application [40, 30, 20 and 10 days before sowing (DBS), at sowing and 15 days after sowing (DAS)] on maize at New Developmental Agricultural Research Farm of KPK Agricultural University Peshawar, during summer 2005. The objective of the experiment was to find out the best level and timing of P application aimed at higher biomass yield and harvest index. The results showed that the highest level of 90 kg P ha-1 at 10 DBS and sowing increased plant height, number of leaves per plant, mean leaf area, dry weight of leaf, stem and ear as well as biomass yield and harvest index. It could be concluded from the experiment that P fertilizer application at 90 kg P ha-1 at 10 DBS or at sowing time is necessary for profitable maize production in the study area.
1Department of Agronomy, KPK Agricultural University, Peshawar 2Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, KPK Agricultural University, Peshawar 3Department of Soil & Environmental Sciences, KPK Agricultural University, Peshawar 4Department of Extension Education and Communication, KPK Agricultural University, Peshawar 5Department of Horticulture, KPK Agricultural University, Peshawar *Corresponding author: draman_agronomist@yahoo.com; Cell: +92-3005741363, Fax: +92-91-9216520 |
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