Assessment of Relationships between Growth and Yield Traits in Kharif Maize (Zea mays L.) under Planting Patterns, Nutrient Regimes and Organic Mulching

Maize (Zea mays L.), commonly known as “queen of cereals,” The present study was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara (Punjab), during the Kharif season of 2024-25. It was titled “Assessment of relationships between growth and yield traits in Kharif maize (Zea mays L.) under planting patterns, nutrient regimes and organic mulching”. This study investigates the correlation of growth and yield parameter of maize under different planting pattern cum nutrient levels and organic mulching enhanced productivity and sustainability.

The experiment was conducted in a split-plot design (SPD) with three replications.

The correlation matrix results show that plant height was significantly correlated with number of leaves, cob length, cob girth, grains/cob, test weight, grain yield and biological yield and Number of leaves was correlated with cob length, cob girth, grains/ cob, test weight, grain yield and also biological yield. Tasseling and silking were correlated to each other and had a non-significant effect on growth and yield parameters. Cob length, cob girth and number of grains have a positive correlation with test weight, grain yield and biological yield and this positive effect is a key point for the production and productivity of maize crop. Test weight was also positively correlated with grain yield and biological yield. Grain yield and biological yield is perfectly correlated to each other. The correlogram result showed that earlier flowering, higher plant height, higher cob length and test weight significantly improved maize yield. These results highlight that optimized planting patterns, balanced nutrient management and organic mulching can improve maize production, productivity and sustainability in the Punjab region.