Sowing date effects on growth characteristics of two maize cultivars

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2014 and 2015 to determine the influence of sowing dates and cultivars on the growth characteristics of maize crop. The treatments comprised four sowing dates (4^th week of May, 2^nd week of June, 4^th week of June and 2^nd week of July) and two maize cultivars (PMH 1 and PMH 2) in a randomized block design. The periodic data on dry matter content (g) of leaf, stem, cob, cob sheath and total dry matter of plant was recorded at the 15 days interval. Among the two crop seasons, more dry matter accumulation and plant height acquired by maize cultivars during 2015 might be due to cooler temperature (lesser by 3.6 to 5.1°C) and receipt of more rainfall (110 mm) as well as distribution of rainfall as compared to 2014. Sowing dates and cultivars significantly affected the dry matter content of the maize. The plant height and dry matter accumulation reduced with the delay in sowing of maize crop. Sowing during 4^th week of May gave significantly higher plant height and total dry matter of leaf, stem, cob, cob sheath. Out of the two cultivars, PMH 1 attained more plant height due to more accumulation of dry matter as the leaf development was better (statistically significant periodic leaf dry matter accumulation). This led to a more robust cob structure and dimensions and this trait for the cv. PMH 1 can help plant tide over the adverse environmental stresses.