Influence of Compost Application and Seed Rates on Production Potential of Late Sown Maize on High Elevation in Swat -Pakistan

Abstract

To evaluate the influence of compost application and seed rates on production potential of late sown maize on high elevation, an experiment was conducted at Farmer Field School (FFS), Swat Pakistan during summer 2013. The design of the experiment was used Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. Sowing was done one month late (July 15^th) than optimum time of sowing. Optimum time of sowing on high elevation in Swat-Pakistan starts from May 15^th, to June 15^th. Four levels of compost (5, 10, 15 and 20t ha^-1) and four seed rates (10, 20, 30 and 40 kg ha^-1) were used (cv. Baber). A subplot size of 3m x 4.5m was used. Each subplot was consisted of six rows having 75 cm row-to-row distance with row length of 3 m. Sowing of 40 kg seed ha^-1treated with 20 tonns compost ha^-1produced cob length (19 cm), plant height (179.19 cm), 1000 grain weight (192.83 g) and grain yield (2712 kg ha^-1). While maximum grain cob^-1 gave by 30 kg seed ha^-1 treated with 20 tonns compost ha^-1(375 grain cob^-1)_. On the basis of the above results, among the tested seed rate 40 kg ha^-1treated with20 tonns compost application is recommended for late sowing on high elevation in the agro-ecological conditions of swat valley.

Keywords: Maize (Zea mays L.), compost, seed rates, grain yield, yield components