Vol. 11, Issue 7 (2022)

Author(s):
Ali AM, Jayalalitha K, Sreekanth B, Martin Luther M and Nafeez Umar SK

Abstract:
The present investigation was carried out during Rabi season of 2017-18 on a clay loam soil at the Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla to study the effect of various bio-inoculants on leaf area of heat stressed maize (Zea mays L.). The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with four different days of sowing of maize (M₁: December 20^th, M₂: January 10^th M₃: January 30^th and M₄: February 20^th) as main plot treatments and five bio-inoculants (Control (S1), AMF (S₂), PSB (S₃), KRB (S₄) and AMF+PSB+KRB (S₅)) as sub plot treatments. Mean values for maize heat stress management via., bio-inoculants revealed that leaf area of maize increased with the increase in age of the crop. Mean values for days of sowing revealed that highest leaf area values of maize were recorded with December 20^th (M₁). With the increase in temperatures during delayed sowings decline in leaf area was seen. The maximum leaf area recorded with application of AMF+PSB+KRB (S₅) in combination in all the sowings (normal and delayed), but however, it was comparable with AMF (S₂). Thus, Jan 10^th (M₂), Jan 30^th (M₃) and Feb 20^th (M₄) with AMF+PSB+KRB (S₅) is an sustainable approach to enhance the leaf area of maize during heat stress if sowings are delayed.