Abstract
The effect of seed quality and geometry .of planting on the productivity of spring maize was investigated on a sandy clay loam soil. Seed quality treatments included top, mid, bottom and whole cob seed while the planting geometry comprised 60 cm apart single rows, 90 cm apart paired rows, with .30 cm. space between the rows of a pair and 60x60 cm hills with two plants per hill. The results revealed that paired row planting (30/90 cm) on account of wider grain-pith ratio produced the highest grain yield of 44.59 quintals as against 40.99 and 40.38 quintals per hectare in case of single row and hill planting systems, respectively. Amongst the various seed grades, the mid cob seed although tended to produce higher grain yield but statistically was at par with the top, bottom and whole cob seed. It was further observed that maize crop in 90 cm apart paired rows, besides allowing effective interculture and gonad ear-thing up, affected substantial saving in labour and time as a result of 50 per cent reduction in the number of irrigation furrows after earthing up compared to the conventional single row planting system and thus resulting in efficient use of irrigation water.
INTRODUCTION
Maize (lea mays L.) is one of the most important cereals and ranks second after wheat. Being a short duration crop, it fits well in the cropping system and provides good economic returns to the growers in relatively lesser time. In Pakistan, it is grown on an area of 739.1 thousand hectares with an annual production of 930.4 thousand tonnes giving on an average 1259 kg per hectare which is not only far below the level of other maize growing countries of the world but also lower than the potential yield of our existing varieties.
* Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.
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