Influence of potassium levels on the phenology of maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrids grown under drought stress

An experiment to mitigate the effects of drought on maize growth and yield of autumn maize was conducted at postgraduate agricultural research station (pars),faisalabad pakistan. drought stress was maintained in term of field capacity using gravimetric techniques. for this experiment,two maize hybrids 32f10 (drought tolerant) and yh1898 (drought sensitive) were sown on 5th august 2010 and on 7th august,2011 during cropping years. the planned experiment was comprised of five drought treatments viz. viz. factor a: maize hybrids (32f10 and yh1898),factor b; drought treatments at various growth stages (no drought [control],drought at five leaf stage,drought at ten leaf stage,drought at anthesis and drought at grain formation) and factor c; potassium levels (0 and 100 mg/ kg of soil). the stress was imposed on various growth stages with out and with 100 mg/kg of soil potassium treatments. data depicted that water stress level directly reduced growth and development parameters like plant height,leaf length,leaf area index,shoot fresh weight per plant,cob length,and cob diameter declined in 2010 and 2011due to drought stress. the application of potassium had promoting effects on all the attributes. it is clarified that potassium applications performed well in term of growth and yield under drought stress condition. therefore,it is suggested that it should be applied as a strategy to mitigate drought stress in maize crop.