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IMPACT OF TILLAGE, PLANT POPULATION AND MULCHES ON BIOLOGICAL YIELD OF MAIZE

BAKHTIAR GUL, KHAN BAHADAR MARWAT^*, GUL HASSAN, AZIM KHAN, SAIMA HASHIM AND IJAZ AHMAD KHAN

Abstract: Field experiments were conducted during 2006 and 2007 in Peshawar, using open pollinated maize variety “Azam” in RCB design having 3 factors viz., tillage, maize populations and mulches with split-split plot arrangements. Tillage levels (zero and conventional) were assigned to the main plots, populations (90000, 60000 and 30000 plants ha^-1) to the sub-plots and four types of mulches (weeds mulch, black plastic mulch, white plastic mulch and mungbean as living mulch), a hand weeding and a weedy check were allotted to sub-sub plots, respectively. Data were recorded on fresh weed biomass (kg ha^-1), leaf area of maize plant^-1 (cm²), leaf area index and biological yield (kg ha^-1). Fresh weed biomass was not affected significantly by the years, whereas all other factors affected the fresh weed biomass.  Zero tillage resulted in maximum fresh weed biomass of 183 kg ha^-1 as compared to 165 kg ha^-1 in the conventional tillage. While lesser weed biomass (151 kg ha^-1) was recorded in the highest population of 90000 plants ha^-1 as compared to 60000 plants ha^-1 (168 kg ha^-1) and 30000 plants ha^-1 (183 kg ha^-1), respectively. Minimum fresh weed biomass was recorded in hand weeding (112 kg ha^-1) and statistically at par with black plastic mulch (120 kg ha^-1), followed by weeds mulch (164 kg ha^-1), white plastic mulch (191 kg ha^-1) and living mulch (195 kg ha^-1) as compared to weedy check (260 kg ha^-1). With zero-tillage biological yield was 7708 kg ha^-1 as compared to 7980 kg ha^-1 in conventional tillage. Similarly, increasing crop density increased biological yield, having 7000, 7992 and 8541 kg ha^-1 in 30000, 60000 and 90000 plants ha^-1, respectively. However, biological yield of individual plants was decreased with increasing plant population. Similarly, mulches, hand weeding and weedy check also affected the biological yield of maize. Significantly higher biological yield of 9118 kg ha^-1 was recorded in the hand weeding as compared to weedy check (5537 kg ha^-1) and black plastic mulch (8982 kg ha^-1). However, based on high cost of plastic, its use is not economical. With weeds mulch (7956 kg ha^-1), white plastic (7934 kg ha^-1) and living mulch (7540 kg ha^-1) yield was not enhanced, as otherwise expected. Based on two years study it is suggested that even if tillage options and plant populations are a part of the weed management program, it should not be used as a sole management tool, instead it must be integrated and supplemented with other control methods, like mulches, hand weeding and/or herbicides.

Department of Weed Science, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar

^*E-mail: kbmarwat@yahoo.com