Response of maize productivity to nitrogen management and mulching practices

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different nitrogen levels and mulch practice on days to physiological maturity, plant height, mean leaf area, mean weeds population, weeds fresh weight, weeds dry weight of maize at Agriculture Research Station Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during summer 2019. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates.  Data was recorded on six quantitative traits i.e. days to physiological maturity, plant height, mean leaf area, mean weeds population, weeds fresh weight, weeds dry weight. Results indicated that Days to physiological maturity, plant height, mean leaf area, mean weeds population, weeds fresh weight, weeds dry weight was significantly altered due to applied treatment. The treatment nitrogen level (N4-150 g.) give high results for the Days to physiological maturity, plant height, mean leaf area, mean weeds population, weeds fresh weight, weeds dry weight as compared to other level of nitrogen, (N1-control), (N2-50g), (N3-100g), (N5-200g). And similarly organic mulch (crop residue) show high result for the Days to physiological maturity, plant height, mean leaf area, mean weeds population, weeds fresh weight, weeds dry weight as compared to inorganic mulch (plastic mulch). It was observed that the nitrogen level (N4-150g) valuable fertilizer and organic mulch show better result as compare to other nitrogen level and inorganic mulch.