Response of maize (Zea mays L.) to different tillage regimes and nitrogen timings under semi-arid irrigated conditions

Soil ploughing up to required depth and time of nitrogen application at different growth stages are important practices for enhancing crop yield. the effect of different tillage systems and nitrogen application at different growth stages on yield and yield components of hybrid maize was studied through 2-years field experiment. the experiments were laid out in rcbd with split plot arrangements and main plots were allocated to tillage treatments viz. (t1: conventional tillage (2-cultivation),t2: tillage with mould board plough + 2-cultivation,t3: tillage with chisel plough + 2-cultivation) while subplots to nitrogen timings viz. (whole at sowing (n1),½ at sowing + ½ at v5 (5-leaf stage) (n2),½ at sowing + ½ at tasseling (n3),½ at v5 + ½ at tasseling (n4),1/3 at sowing + 1/3 at v5 + 1/3 at tasseling (n5). the results indicated significant improvement of yield and yield components through tillage and split application of nitrogen. plots ploughed to deeper layers with chisel plough resulted higher grains weight per cob (127.65±3.43; 134.45±3.66),1000-grain weight (272.18±3.33; 306.40±3.08) and grain yield (6.30±0.11; 7.04 ±0.13) during 2008 and 2009,respectively. nitrogen application in three splits i.e.1/3 at sowing +1/3 at v5 +1/3 at tasseling resulted increased grains weight per cob,1000-grain weight and grain yield. interactive effect of tillage and nitrogen treatments on maize gain yield found significant in 2008 while non-significant in 2009. higher grain yield was recorded with chisel plough along with n application in three splits during both study years. from current study,it may be concluded that farmers should grow maize hybrids by cultivating the soil using chisel plough along with cultivator and applying nitrogen in three splits to obtain higher grain yield. © 2017,university of agriculture. all rights reserved.