Influence of different methods of irrigation and nitrogen levels on crop growth rate and yield of maize (Zea mays L.)

An experiment was conducted on alfisol at the Agronomy Farm, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand during two consecutive rabi seasons of the year 2002–03 and 2003–04 with a view to study the influence of different methods of irrigation and nitrogen levels on crop growth rate and yield of maize (Zea mays L.). Twenty treatment combinations, comprised of four methods of irrigation (flat bed, all furrow, alternate furrow and skip furrow irrigations) and five nitrogen levels (75, 100, 125, 150 and 175 kg ha−1) were tried in a split plot design replicated four times, wherein, methods of irrigation were relegated in the main plots and nitrogen levels were assigned to the sub-plots. The results revealed that methods of irrigation and nitrogen had significant influence on growth attributes. Significantly higher grain and stover yields (5165 and 8297 kg ha−1) were recorded under all furrow irrigation than alternate and skip furrow irrigation but it was at par with flat bed irrigation which recorded the grain and stover yields of 4917 and 8018 kg ha−1, respectively. Application of 175 kg N ha−1 (N5) recorded significantly higher grain yield (5077 kg ha−1) than the rest of the nitrogen levels except 150 kg N ha−1, which recorded the grain yield of 4960 kg ha−1 but 150 and 125 kg N ha−1 were also at par.