Effect of different phosphorus levels on the yield and yield components of maize

In order to investigate the effect of different phosphorus levels on the yield and yield components of maize, an experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Research Institute, Tarnab (Peshawar) during 2007. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications having a plot size of 5.40 m x 6.7 m with row to row distance of 0.75 m and plant to plant distance of 0.25 m. The levels of phosphorus were 0 (control), 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg per ha. Results indicated that the different levels of phosphorus significantly affected maize plant height, number of cobs per plant, number of grains per cob and grain yield, however the effect was non significant on number of plants m-2, thousand grain weight and biological yield of maize. Application of P at the rate of 100 kg per ha resulted in maximum plant height (158 cm), number of cobs per plant (1.25), number of grain per cob (327), thousand grain weight (241 g), grain yield (2415 kg per ha) and biological yield (7999 kg per ha) as compared to the minimum values in control plots i.e. 145cm, 0.80, 290, 188 g, 1305 kg per ha and 5753 kg per ha, respectively. It is concluded that P should be applied at the rate of 100 kg per ha for best grain yield in the agro-ecological conditions of Peshawar.