EFFECT OF LEAF CLIPPING ON DRY MATTER
PARTITIONING, GRAIN AND FODDER YIELD OF HYBRID MAIZE
Authors: F. Ahmed*,
M. A. Jahan, F. Kabir, B. L. Nag, and A. H. M. M. Rahman Talukder
Abstract
A field experiment on hybrid maize was carried out at
the Research field of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur,
RARS Jamalpur and Jessore during rabi season of 2012-13 to evaluate leaf
clipping effect on grain and fodder yield of hybrid maize. Six treatments
namely; T1 = no leaf clipping (control), T2 = all leaves clipping
above cob, T3 = all leaves clipping below cob, T4 = T2
+ stem clipping above cob, T5 = all leaves clipping, T6 =
keeping only ear leaf but other leaves clipping were used as treatments
variable in the present study. Leaves clipping were done at 20 days after
silking. Leaf clipping provided a remarkable amount of fodder yield but it
reduced total dry matter production as well as cob dry weight which ultimately
reduced grain yield. In all the locations, the highest grain yields (11.66,
10.15 and 10.75 t ha-1) were recorded in no leaf clipping treatment (control)
while the lowest (5.59, 5.22 and 4.90 t
ha-1) in all leaves clipping
treatment. Over the locations, the highest fodder yields (10.71, 9.95 and 9.07 t ha-1)
were recorded in all leaves clipping treatment but it reduced grain yield drastically
(49 to 54%). The lowest fodder yields (3.47, 4.40 and 5.06 t ha-1)
were recorded in all leaves clipping above cob treatment. Grain yields were
less affected (6.09 to 14.28 % reduction) by all leaves clipping below cob
treatment, which provided about 6 ton fodders ha-1 in addition to
grain yield. Therefore, all leaves clipping below cob at 20 days after silking
would be an option for the farmers who usually practice leaf clipping in maize for
fodder purpose.
Key words: Leaf clipping,
fodder yield and grain yield.
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Return Volume: Journal of Experimental Biosciences 6(2): July 2015
