Response of maize varieties under agro-ecological conditions of Dera Ismail Khan.

Seventeen maize entries comprising advanced breeding lines and commercial varieties alongwith a check “Soan-3” were evaluated at Agricultural Research Institute, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan during 2008. Analysis of variance revealed that maize varieties differed significantly for days to 50 percent silking, plant height and grain yield per hectare. Varieties Sahiwal-2002 and AZC-3 took maximum days (56) to 50 percent silking whereas variety EV-1097 took minimum days (44). The highest plant height (222 cm) was attained by Margala and Sahiwal-2002 against the lowest (155 cm) by Agaiti-2002. Maize variety EV5098 produced higher grain yield (5.804 t/ha) whereas variety AZC-3 produced the lowest (3.332 t/ha). Islamabad Gold and Sahiwal-2002 produced significantly at par grain yield with the check. The maize varieties showed wide genetic back ground and hence yield ranged from 3.332 to 5.804 tons per hectare. Varieties EV-5098, Sahiwal-2002 and Islamabad Gold were found as the most promising. These varieties possess the potential to increase average maize grain yield in D.I.Khan region.