Maize MAIZE YIELD AS AFFECTED BY METHODS OF TILLAGE AND WEED MANAGEMEMNT

An experiment entitled: Maize yield as affected by methods of tillage and weed control methods was conducted at Agronomy Research Farms, The University of Agriculture Peshawar during summer 2016. The study was conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement having four replications. Tillage practices 1) Chisel plough + rotavator 2) Mouldboard plough + rotavator 3) Cultivator + rotavator and 4) Rotavator were assigned to main plots. Weed management practices included 1) Control, 2) Hoeing 15 days after sowing 3) Hoeing 15 and 30 days after sowing 4) Hoeing 15, 30 and 45 days after sowing, and 4) Herbicide (nicosulfuron) were kept into the subplots. The results revealed that chisel plough + rotavator has significantly reduced weeds m-2 (122, 101 and 125 weeds m-2), weeds fresh weight (19.73 g m-2, 116.35 g m-2 and 252.56 g m-2) and weeds dry weight (6.83 g m-2, 38.69 g m-2 and 80.61 g m-2) at 30, 45 and 60 days after sowing, respectively. The operation of chisel plough + rotavator has produced tallest plants (221.22 cm) with maximum grain rows ear-1 (16), grain yield (3586 kg ha-1) and shelling percentage (78.14%). Among weed control methods, hoeing 15, 30 and 45 days after sowing revealed maximum plant height (226.41 cm), grain rows ear-1 (16), grain yield (3604 kg ha-1) and shelling percentage (79.11%). All weed control methods have showed significant reduction in weeds m-2, weeds fresh weight and weeds dry weight. Interaction was also found significant for weeds m-2 at 60 DAS and grain yield of maize. Lowest weeds (56 weeds m-2) at 60 DAS and highest grain yield (4569 kg ha-1) was recorded when seedbed was prepared with chisel plough + rotavator with 3 hoeings (hoeing 15, 30 and 45 days after sowing). It is concluded that treatment of chisel plough + rotavator and hoeing 15, 30 and 45 days after sowing has significantly produced maximum grain yield of maize crop.