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Defoliation studies in hybrid maize: II. Dry-matter accumulation, LAI, silking and yield components*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. P. Singh  and
K. P. P. Nair
R. P. Singh
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India
K. P. P. Nair
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India
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Summary

Data are presented from an experiment made in two crop seasons, to examine the effects of plant density and degree of defoliation at different stages of growth in maize at Pantnagar, India, on the dry-matter accumulation in different plant parts, leaf area index (LAI), time of silking and grain yield components.

Different patterns of dry-matter accumulation in various plant parts was observed. Silking was delayed by increasing plant density. Defoliation (even partial) at the 16th fully expanded leaf stage resulted in substantial reduction in LAI and such yield components as number of ears, ear length, ear diameter and 1000-grain weight. On the other hand, partial defoliation done at the 10th fully expanded leaf stage to simulate an ‘erectophile canopy’ led to yield increases even under high plant density (90000 plants/ha) in the Kharif (rainy season), mainly through an increase in number of ears, 1000-grain weight and grain to stover ratio coupled with a reduction in barrenness and percentage of lodging. It is suggested that an increase in the photosynthetic efficiency per unit area of leaf resulting from the ‘erectophile canopy’ is the reason for these effects.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 85 , Issue 2 , October 1975 , pp. 247 - 254
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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References

REFERENCES

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Singh, R. P. & Nair, K. P. P. (1975). Defoliation studies in hybrid maize. I. Grain yield, quality and leaf chemical composition. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 85, 241–245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar