Influence of sowing methods on productivity of maize (Zea mays)

Abstract

A field study was carried out during the rainy season of 1997 and  1998 to assess the influence of different sowing methods on productivity of maize (Zea mays L.) at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Sowing of maize in trenches under extremely dry hot weather conditions gave significantly higher grain yield (6.48 tonnes/ha) than flat sowing (5.19 tonnes/ha), ridge sowing (5.11 tonnes/ha) and sowing on the raised beds (4.69 tonnes/ha). Lodging was also significantly low in trench-sown crop (2.2%) as compared with flat sowing (8.7%) and ridge sowing (15.1 %). Applying irrigation was easy, effective and economical in trenches compared with flat seed bed and there was saving of 2 irrigations compared with flat sowing.