Abstract:
A field trail was carried out
to evaluate the effect of different sowing
techniques and mulches on the growth and
yield attributes of maize. The experiment
was conducted at the Agronomic Research
Farm, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
during spring season, 2011. The experiment
was laid out in randomized complete block
design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement
having three replications with net plot size
of 7.0 m × 4.5 m. Field experiment
comprised of five sowing methods (S1: ridge
sowing, S2: ridge sowing alternate double
sided, S3: bed sowing, S4: furrow sowing
and S5 flat sowing) and three mulches (M1:
maize pith, M2: wheat straw, M3: rice straw)
was conducted during 2011 spring season
under the tropical condition. The results
showed that cobs length, cob diameter, and
number of grains per cob, 1000-grain
weight, biological yield and grain yield
were maximum under ridge sowing method
(S1) following the ridge sowing alternate
double sided (S2). Furrow sowing shows
least response to the agronomic and yield
related parameters of spring maize. Among
the mulch treatments; wheat straw mulch
(M2) perform better and gave higher grain
yield (6.21 Mg ha-1) as compared to the rice
straw mulch and maize pith. Sowing
techniques and mulches showed statistically
non significant results for quality
parameters (starch contents, oil contents and
protein contents). Interaction of all three
quality parameters was also observed non
significant.
