Influence of nitrogen and crop geometry on seed yield and quality of forage maize

Field experiments were conducted on forage maize at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during late kharif season of 2003 and 2004. Results revealed that application of the highest level of nitrogen 150 kg ha⁻¹ produced higher seed yield over 90 and 120 kg N ha⁻¹. The plant geometry of 60×15 cm gave significantly higher seed yield over 60×20, 45×15, 30×20 and 30×15 cm which was at par with 45×20 cm plant geometry. The application of 150 kg N ha⁻¹ produced higher 1000-seed weight, number of seeds per cob, number of seeds per row and number of seed rows per cob over 120 and 90 kg N ha⁻¹. The highest 1000-seed weight, number of seeds per cob, number of seeds per row, seed weight per cob and number of seed rows per cob was obtained from the plant geometry of 60×20 cm which was significantly higher over all other geometry. Protein content in seed significantly increased with the each successive dose of nitrogen up to the highest level of 150 kg ha⁻¹. Similar trend in the protein yield was observed during both the years. The significantly higher protein content was recorded under the plant geometry of 60×20 and 60×15 cm as compared to 45×20, 45×15, 30×20 and 30×15 cm which was at par under 60×15 cm plant geometry during 2003. In the second year, the protein content was statistically higher in the seed of crop planted with 60×20 cm plant geometry than the crop planted with the plant geometry of 60×15, 45×20, 45×15, 30×20 and 30×15 cm. However, the protein yield was significantly highest under the plant geometry of 60×15 cm as compared to 60×20, 45×20, 45×15, 30×20 and 30×15 cm plant geometry during both the years.