PHENOLOGY AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF MAIZE AS INFLUENCED BY DIFFERENT FORMS OF DAIRY MANURE WITH SUPPLEMENTAL NITROGEN MANAGEMENT

Dairy manures being a fundamental part of sustainable farming which enhances both soil fertility and productivity by providing both macro and micro nutrients as well as soil organic matter that retains soil moisture and nutrients conservation. The objectives of the study were to evaluate response of different forms of dairy manure with supplemental nitrogen application timing on growth and phenology of maize. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design having three factors, different forms of dairy manures (fresh and composted), their levels (3, 4 and 5 t ha-1) and nitrogen application timing (full at sowing, full at V6 stage and half at sowing + half at V6 stage). The experimental results stated that among different forms of dairy manures, composted dairy manure applied at 5 t ha-1delayed days to tasseling, silking and physiological maturity as compared to fresh dairy manure. Composted dairy manure at higher level produced higher ears m-2, lengthy ears, more rows ear-1, higher grains row-1 and increase grain yield over fresh dairy manure. Among different nitrogen application timing, nitrogen applied in two splits i.e half at sowing + half at V6 stage delayed days to tasseling, silking and physiological maturity and resulted higher ears m-2, longer ears, maximum rows ear-1, more grains row-1and higher grain yield than nitrogen applied fully at sowing and V6 stage. Conclusively, application of composted dairy manures at the rate of 5 t ha-1 along with nitrogen in two splits improved phenology and growth of maize under agro-ecological condition of Peshawar.