Effect of super absorbent polymer and plant geometry on growth and productivity of maize (Zea mays L.)

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2016 at Instructional Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur (Rajasthan).The treatment comprised of four levels of Super absorbent polymer (0, 10, 15 and 20 kg ha-1) and three plant geometry (60 cm x 25 cm, 60 cm x 20 cm and 45 cm x 30 cm) tried in factorial randomised block design replicated three times. The results revealed that the polymer levels 20 kg ha-1recorded significantly higher growth attributes viz., plant height, dry matter accumulation (g plant-1), leaf area index at harvest, relative water content at 60 DAS, and yield attributes viz., number of cobs plant-1, grain rows cob-1, grain cob-1, cob length, 1000- grain weight and grain weight cob-1. Application of 20 kg polymer ha-1 gave the maximum grain yield (4006 kg ha-1), stover (5990kg ha-1) and biological yield (9996 kg ha-1). Plant geometry 60 cm x 25 cm recorded higher growth and yield attributes as compared to 60 cm x 20 cm and 45 cm x 30 cm. However, the highest grain yield of 3978 kgha-1 was recorded under 60 cm x 20 cm plant geometry. The maximum net return and B C ratio of 35938 and 1.08 were recoded under plant geometry 60 cm x 20 cm.