Vol. 11, Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
Pavan Singh, Amit Bhatnagar, Vijay Kumar Singh, Gurvinder Singh and Veer Singh

Abstract:
Excess soil moisture stress is one of the major constraints in maize growth and development. Proper crop management practices need to be developed to improve growth of plant under excess soil moisture stress. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted for two years during kharif season 2019 and 2021 at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, to observe the influence of sowing method, amount of nitrogen and foliar application of gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) on excess soil moisture stressed maize. Six treatment combinations of nitrogen and GABA {recommended dose of N (RDN), RDN + 30 kg N/ha, RDN + 1 mM GABA, RDN + 2 mM GABA, RDN + 30 kg N/ha + 1 mM GABA and RDN + 30 kg N/ha + 2 mM GABA} were tested under two sowing methods viz., flat and ridge. Thus, twelve treatments were analyzed in factorial RBD with three replications. The recommended dose of nutrients was 120:60:40 kg N: P₂O₅:K₂O/ha. Artificial ponding was created at knee height stage continuously for 7-days. The depth of standing water was maintained 5 cm in the field. Extra 30 kg N was top dressed 4 days after drainage of water and foliar application of GABA was made thrice 3, 10 and 17, four days after draining of ponded water. Nitrogen and GABA had significant positive impact on growth of plants. Stressed plants treated with RDN+ 30 kg N + 2 mm GABA exhibited the highest AGR, CGR and RGR. Maize grown on ridge attained significantly 7.6% more AGR (2.82 g/plant/day) and 13.4% CGR more (1.27 g/cm²/day) and 2.2% higher RGR (18.5 mg/g/day) at 51- 65 DAS than flat sowing. Maximum AGR, CGR and RGR were obtained with RDN + 30 kg N + 2 mM GABA application. Results revealed that adverse effects of excess soil moisture stress on growth of maize plants can be overcome by growing on ridge and applying extra 30 kg N/ha.