Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the dryland crops grown in rice-based cropping systems, however, yield of this crop is generally.lowo One of th~ factors con~buting.to low yield is the poor soil and water management to the environment of the nce paddyo Field studies were conducted on paddy soil at the farm of Phitsanulok Field Crops Experiment Station, Phitsanulok, Thailand during 1993 to 1997 in dry season (December -May). The objectives of this study were to deternline the effect of the irrigation, tillage, plant density , mulching, water deficit and weed control methods on growth and grain yield of maize grown in paddy field under irrigated conditions. The results indicated that the late maturity hybrid DK 888 produced approximately 55 -75 % and 15 -80 % greater grain yield than NS 1 an open-pollinated cultivar and NST 89101, an early maturity cultivar, respectively. Maximum yield of maize grown after rice was obtained under tillage on seedbed preparation with 80,000 plant ha-l. While the average yield of maize grown under straw mulching was a 77-120% greater than no-mulching treatment. Hand weeding at 2 and 4 weeks after emergence provided significantly 55 % increase to yield over the unweeded treatment. The average yield of maize when grown under mild and severe stress was gradually decreased by 20 and 35 % , respectively, when compared to the well watered treatment. Yield components and some agronomic characters were consistently affected by irrigation, tillage, plant density, mulching, water deficit and weed control methods.

English

0208|AGRIS 0201|AL-Maize Program|R01PROCE

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection