Growth and yield attributes of rabi maize as influenced by induced moisture stress atcritical crop growth stages

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2021-22 at MARS, Dharwad to study the response of rabi maizeto induced moisture stress at critical crop growth stages and spectral characterization through unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) and proximal sensing. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with three replications and nine treatments (Irrigationsat all stages and skipping at different stages).Results revealed thatirrigations scheduled at all growth stages recordedsignificantly higher kernel yield (7040 kg ha-1) and number of grains per cob (509.6) over rest of the treatments. Irrigationsup to knee high stage recorded significantly lower kernel yield (2628.3 kg ha-1) andnumber of grains per cob (153.5) andthese were on par with irrigation skipped at all critical stages (2729.7 kg ha-1 and 160.5, respectively).Yield reduction (%)was observed with skipping irrigation only at tasseling (18.4) and only at silking (16.6), at tasseling and silking (47.7), at allcritical stages (61.2) and irrigations up to knee high stage (62.7) compared to irrigations at all crop growth stages. At harvest,irrigations at all growth stages recorded significantly higher plant height (176.1 cm), leaf area index (4.06) and total drymatter (214.5 g plant-1). However these parameters were on par with skipping irrigation only at milky stage (173.3 cm,3.88 and 206.2 g plant-1, respectively).