Abstract
A field trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of three nitrogen levels (N1 @ 150 kg ha-1, N2 @ 200 kg ha-1, N3
@ 250 kg ha-1) and three maize cultivars B-202, M-919 and P-31-R-88 on yield and yield components of maize.
Nitrogen rates significantly affected harvest index (HI). The maximum HI (41.97%) was achieved in N3 treatment
followed by N2 (41.20%) and N1 (38.01%). Maximum grain yield (8.09 t ha-1) was produced @ 250 kg N ha-1
followed by N2 (7.57 t ha-1) and N1 (6.59 t ha-1) treatments. Cultivar P-31-R-88 also showed maximum grain yield
(8.33 t ha-1) over cv. B-202(7.77 t ha-1) and cv. M-919 (6.16 t ha-1). N3 (250 kg N ha-1) treatment increased plant
height to 176.00 cm as compared to N2 (167.17 cm) and N1 (157.68 cm) treatments. 1000-grain weight was also
increased in N3 treatment over N2 and N1 treatments, such as 250.88 g, 262.57 g, and 270.43 g in N1, N2 and N3
treatments, respectively. Whereas maximum 1000-grain weight 277.02 g was achieved by cv. P-31-R-88 followed
by B-202 (273.18 g) and M-919 (233.68 g). Results suggested that the cultivar P-31-R-88 and nitrogen rate N3
(250 kg ha-1) could be used successfully for improving maize yield.
