Effect of plant population, irrigation and nitrogen on yield and its attributes of spring maize (Zea mays)

An experiment was conducted during spring season of 1995 and 1996 to find out effect of 3 levels of plant population, 3 of irrigation based on ID : CPE ratio and 4 of nitrogen on 'Ageti 76' maize (Zea mays L.) in sandy-loam soil. The lower plant population (53,333 and 66,666 plants/ha) produced higher cobs/plant, cob length, grains/cob, grain weight/cob and 1,000-grain weight, but the higher plant population (66,666 and 88,888 plants/ha) resulted significantly higher grain yield than lowest plant population. Frequent irrigation (0.6 ID : CPE) resulted in higher yield and yield attributes in both the years, except grain yield in second year where 0.4 and 0.6 ID : CPE ratios were at par. The increased level of N improved the yield and yield attributes. Maximum values of yield attributes and that of grain yield were with the highest level of nitrogen (225 kg/ha). The increase with 225 kg N/ha was 137.00 and 126.12% over the control in 1996 and 1996 respectively.