ENERGY USE EFFICIENCY (EUE) FOR HYBRID MAIZE UNDER DIFFERENT TILLAGE SYSTEMS AND PLANT DENSITY IN CHITWAN, NEPAL

Abstract

To assess energy use efficiency of hybrids maize as influenced by tillage methods and plant density. A field experiment was carried out at research field of National Maize Research Program (NMRP), Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal during winter season of 2015/16. The experiment was laid out in strip-split plot design comprising two hybrids as horizontal factor (Rampur hybrid 4 and Rampur hybrid 6), two tillage methods as vertical factors (zero and conventional tillage) and four plant populations as sub-sub plot factors (55,555, 69,444, 85,470 and 1,01,010 plants ha-1). Zero tillage recorded significantly higher energy output and net energy balance (238.98 and 217.48 MJ ha-1) as compared to conventional tillage (193.65 and 172.22 MJ ha-1, respectively). Similarly, the plant population of 85 thousand plants ha-1 recorded significantly higher energy output and net energy balance (233.98 and 212.45 thousand MJ ha-1) than 55 (184.10 and 162.87 thousand MJ ha-1) but remained at par with 69 (206.63 and 185.24 thousand MJ ha-1) and 101 thousand plants ha-1 (240.55 and 218.83 thousand MJ ha-1). To assess energy use efficiency of hybrids maize as influenced by tillage methods and plant density. A field experiment was carried out at research field of National Maize Research Program (NMRP), Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal during winter season of 2015/16. The experiment was laid out in strip-split plot design comprising two hybrids as horizontal factor (Rampur hybrid 4 and Rampur hybrid 6), two tillage methods as vertical factors (zero and conventional tillage) and four plant populations as sub-sub plot factors (55,555, 69,444, 85,470 and 1,01,010 plants ha-1). Zero tillage recorded significantly higher energy output and net energy balance (238.98 and 217.48 MJ ha-1) as compared to conventional tillage (193.65 and 172.22 MJ ha-1, respectively). Similarly, the plant population of 85 thousand plants ha-1 recorded significantly higher energy output and net energy balance (233.98 and 212.45 thousand MJ ha-1) than 55 (184.10 and 162.87 thousand MJ ha-1) but remained at par with 69 (206.63 and 185.24 thousand MJ ha-1) and 101 thousand plants ha-1 (240.55 and 218.83 thousand MJ ha-1).

Keywords

• minimum tillage, zero tillage, optimum plant density , energy use efficiency, maize (zea mays l.)