ABSTRACT

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2023 on “Studies on impact of transient waterlogging stress and foliar spray on performance of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.)” at AICRP on maize, MARS, UAS, Dharwad. The experiment was replicated thrice in strip plot design with 19 treatment combinations. The first strip consists of six treatments of waterlogging at V5 to V6 stage and the second strip consists of three foliar sprays at 2 per cent (urea, KNO3 and 19:19:19 NPK) and one outside control (no waterlogging and no foliar spray).
Among the waterlogging duration, waterlogging up to three days did not affect maize performance. However, waterlogging for one day improved significantly grain yield (8843 kg ha-1), stover yield (12.4 t ha-1), grain weight per cob (135.2 g), test weight (30.8 g), biological yield (235.5 g plant-1), gross returns (`1,94,745 ha-1), net returns (`1,33,038 ha-1) and B-C ratio (3.16) compared to control. The lowest grain yield (2397 kg ha-1) and stover yield (5.6 t ha-1) were recorded in six days waterlogging and it was on par with five days waterlogging.
Among foliar sprays, KNO3 foliar application recorded significantly higher grain yield (6077 kg ha-1), stover yield (9.7 t ha-1), grain weight per cob (130 g), test weight (30.37 g), biological yield (180.3 g plant-1), gross returns (`1,36,610 ha-1), net returns (`73,743 ha-1) and B-C ratio (2.17).
Among interactions, plants under waterlogging for one day followed by foliar application of KNO3 improved significantly grain yield (9155 kg ha-1), stover yield (13.5 t ha-1), grain weight per cob (137.2 g), test weight (31.87 g), gross returns (` 2,02,115 ha-1), net returns (`1,39,248 ha-1) and B-C ratio (3.21). However, plants under five to six days waterlogging at V5 to V6 stage did not recover even with foliar nutrition.