Influence of Nutrient Management on Seed Quality of Maize Hybrid-Hema (Zea mays L.)

A laboratoryexperiment was conducted at National Seed Project and Department of Seed Science and Technology, UAS, GKVK, Bangalore. The experiment was laid out in factorial RCBD with three replications to study the effect of nutrient levels viz., 100 per cent RDF as a straight fertilizer(150: 75: 40 NPK kgha»+ ZnSo₄10 kgha-1), 100 per cent RDF in the form of DAP and MOP (150: 75: 40 NPK kgha» + ZnSo₄ 10 kgha-1), 125 per cent N and P(187.5: 93.75: 40 NPK kgha > + ZnSo₄10 kgha-1), 150per cent N and P (225: 112.5: 40 NPK kgha > + ZnSo₄10 kgha ¹) in combination with three stages of split application of nitrogen (40% N @ Basal + 60% N @ tasseling), (40% N @ Basal+30% N @ 8 leaf stage+30% N @ tasseling) and (40% N @ Basal+30% N @ 8 leaf stage+25% N @ tasseling+5% N @ seed filling stage) on seed quality of maize hybrid Hema. Among the nutrient levels, application of 150per cent N and P(225: 112.5: 40 NPK kgha > + ZnSo₄ 10 kgha⁻1)(T4) recorded significantly highest quality parameters like germination (96.58%), mean seedling length (23.60 cm), mean seedling dry weight (64.48 mg), seedling vigour index-I and n (2279 & 6227, respectively), seed index (31.31 g), seed density (1.46 g/cc), total dehydrogenase activity (A480nm) (0.81) and the same treatment (T₄) was recorded lowest electrical conductivity (86.62 dSm⁻¹). Among the time of N applications, the application of N at four splits recorded highest seed quality parameters like germination (97.25%), mean seedling length, mean seedling length (23.70 cm), mean seedling dry weight (64.37 mg), SVII and H (2304 & 6260, respectively), seed index (30.78 g), seed density (1.44 g/cc), total dehydrogenase activity (A_480nm) (0.83) and lowest electrical conductivity (84.98 dSm') compared to control and all other treatments. Hence, application of 150 per cent along with N application at four splits should be adopted to obtain goodq uality seed.