PJB-2013-274
HOW THE COMPETITION OF XANTHIUM STRUMARIUM L. AFFECTS THE PHENOLOGICAL CHARACTERS OF MAIZE CROP
ZAHID HUSSAIN1*, KHAN BAHADAR MARWAT2, MUHAMMAD AZIM KHAN1, SAIMA HASHIM1 AND TAMANA BAKHT1
Abstract
Maize is greatly influenced by competition of Xanthium strumarium L., having an adverse impact on its phonology and growth. Hence, to evaluate the effect of X. strumarium on phenological characters of maize, field experiments were conducted at the Research Farm of the University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan during summer 2006 and 2007 using a randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement replicated three times. Four maize densities and seven varying densities of X. strumarium were tested. Data were recorded on emergence m-2, days to tasseling, days to silking, days to maturity, and plant height of maize crop. All the maize phonological characters were significantly affected by the alternate crop and weed densities. The emergence m-2 was significantly reduced with increase in the densities of both the crop and weed. The tasseling stage of maize was delayed significantly at the highest maize density of 12.5 plants m-2 and at the X. strumarium densities ranging from 8 to 12 plants m-2. The effect on silking stage of maize was significant statistically and it took 4-7 days for the maize plants in all the treatments to switch over from tasseling to silking stage. Weed density of 0 to 4 plants m-2 had a significant effect on days to maturity and the maturity stage was significantly delayed by increasing weed density from 6 to 12 plants m-2. Plant height of maize was also influenced by the varying densities of either species, and plant heights were greater at 7.5 and 10 maize plants m-2. Moreover, increasing the X. strumarium density from 0 to 6 plants m-2, maize plant height progressively increased, however the plant heights declined at 8 to 12 X. strumarium plants m-2. In light of the results it is concluded that both the crop and weed density do influence the phonological parameters of maize. However, crop density alone is not enough to cope effectively with the higher populations of X. strumarium weed; therefore, multiple cultural approaches should be employed to desirably improve the crop phenology when in competition with this weed.
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