J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2016: Vol.

30 (1):137-141
(137) ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

HYBRID SEED PRODUCTION OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) AS INFLUENCED

BY DIFFERENT MALE AND FEMALE PARENT'S ROW RATIOS AND
FERTILITY LEVELS
Ankush Kumar*, B. S. Mankotia and Pankaj Chopra
Department of Agronomy, Forages and Grassland Management, CSKHPKV, Palampur176062, (H.P.) India
[Corresponding author E-mail*: ankushhpkv@gmail.com]

Received: 26-01-2016 Accepted: 24-02-2016

A field experiment was conducted at Shivalik Agricultural Research and Extension Centre, Kangra to study the effect of row ratio
of male (HKI 163) and female (HKI 193-1) parents and fertility levels on single cross maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid seed production and
its economics. The experiment constituting of twelve treatment combinations involving two factors viz., three row ratios (3:1, 4:1
and 5:1 of female: male) and four fertility levels (80-40-25, 120-60-40, 160-80-55 and 200-100-70 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1) in main and
sub plots, respectively was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Fertility level of 120-60-40 being at par with 160-80-
55 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 had recorded significantly higher cob length, 1000-grain weight in both the parents and cobs plant-1, seeds
cob-1 in female parents which have contributed in getting significantly higher seed and grain yield in female and male parents,
respectively. However, highest net returns and B:C ratio of Rs. 92,620 ha-1 and 3.82, respectively were obtained with application of
120-60-40 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 due to higher yields (seed/grain and stover) and lower cost of cultivation. With respect to row ratios,
significantly higher cobs plant-1 in both parents and seeds cob-1 in female parent were recorded at 3:1 row ratio which has resulted
in significantly higher seed/grain yields in female/male parents. As a result of higher yields, highest economic returns (i.e. net
returns Rs. 81,578 ha-1 and B:C ratio 3.32) were obtained at this row ratio.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereal crops
in the world. It has higher yield potential than any other cereal
and many times it is referred as miracle crop or the queen of
cereals. Maize is grown both as food for man and fodder for
animal. The area under maize in HP is 292.1 thousand hectares
with production of 679.0 thousand tonnes1. In Himachal
Pradesh, there is a demand of about 58,840 q of maize seed
every year against present supply of 18-20 thousand quintals
of hybrids purchased from other states. Farmers have to
depend upon alternative sources and use poor quality and
costly seeds. One of the prime limiting factors in increasing
productivity of this crop is unavailability of quality seed of
improved varieties/hybrids. In HP at present, 30-40 % area of
maize is covered under different hybrids of which single cross
hybrid (SCH) constitutes only 5-7 % and remaining are double
or three way cross hybrids. Thus, inadequate supply of quality
seed hybrids during sowing season forces farmers to use poor
quality seeds which result in 30-40 % reduction in production.
Crossing between two desirable inbreds as a male and female
parents and deriving F1 or hybrid from the cross is called a
single cross hybrid. In India, single cross hybrids cover about
20 % of the total area. Thus, Indian maize program has now
given focus on single cross hybrids and since year 2000, a
total number of 80 single cross maize hybrids have been
released. Hybrid seed production of maize crop is influenced
largely by several agronomic and management factors, among
which planting ratio, staggered sowing and levels of nitrogen
application are important. The poor seed yield noticed in many
maize hybrids is mainly attributed to the nicking problem
existed between male and female parents. Even in well
synchronized plots, the seed yield was found to be far less
from expectation which may be due to various reasons like
wind direction, velocity and availability of insufficient viable
pollens to female parent. Therefore, one of the basic
requirements in hybrid seed production is to find out optimum
planting ratio and plant population to provide sufficient quantity
of viable pollens to the seed parent during flowering period for
ensuring increased pollination and fertilization to obtain higher
hybrid seed set and yield. In hybrid maize seed production,
sources of plant nutrients like organic and inorganic fertilizers
are known to be potential to enhance seed crop productivity of
maize hybrid. Currently, the importance of an adequate supply
of plant nutrients to ensure efficient hybrid seed production is
being emphasized as inbreds are heavy feeders of nutrients.
Keeping this in view, the present investigation was taken out
to find out the suitable row ratio of male and female parents of
single cross maize hybrid and to study the effect of fertility
levels on hybrid seed production.

NAAS Rating (2016)-4.20

 HYBRID SEED PRODUCTION OF MAIZE
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The field experiment was conducted during kharif 2012 at
Shivalik Agricultural Research and Extension Centre, Kangra
which is situated at N latitude, 75018' E longitude and 700
meters a.m.s.l altitude. The site falls in the Sub-temperate
Mid Hill Zone of Himachal Pradesh. The soil was silty clay
loam having pH 6.2, available nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium of 390, 11.8 and 160 kg ha-1, respectively. The
treatments consisting of 4 fertility levels (80-40-25, 120-60-
40,160-80-55 and 200-100-70 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1) in main plots
and 3 row ratios (3:1, 4:1 and 5:1, female: male) in sub plots
were laid out in split plot design with three replications. One
third nitrogen as per treatments and whole P2O5 and K2O as
per treatments were applied at the time of sowing. The
remaining two third of nitrogen was applied in two equal splits,
one at knee-high and the other at tasseling stage of the crop.
The two splits of nitrogen were given by placing fertilizer by
the sides of maize rows avoiding direct contact with plants.
The crop was sown on 22 May, 2012 after harvest of wheat
crop. Seeds of 'Male (HKI 163) and Female (HKI 193-1) parent'
were used for sowing with recommended seed rate of 20 kg
ha-1. The total rainfall received during the crop season (May to
September 2012, kharif) amounted to 1960.7 mm. All other
agronomic practices were kept normal and uniform for all other
treatments. Irrigation was given when needed and field was
kept weed free throughout the growing season.
The observations recorded at different stages of crop growth
and development were plant height at 90 days after sowing
(DAS) in which five plants of each parents were randomly
selected for taking plant height and were averaged to get plant
height of single plant of respective category. Yield attributes
were recorded after harvest of the crop. Yield was recorded
from each net plot area and converted to hectare basis after
adjusting moisture and shelling %. The economics of the
respective treatments was worked out by multiplying the yield
of produce (grain) and byproducts (stover) with their prevailing
market prices, respectively. Market prices for hybrid seed (F1,
produced on female parent) and grain (produced on male parent)
was Rs. 50 and 10 kg-1, respectively and Rs. 2.5 kg-1 for stover.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Plant height : The data presented in Table-1 revealed that in
case of both parents, plant height was found to increase with
(138)
increasing fertility levels. The differences were not significant
for female parents but for male parents, fertility level of 200-
100-70 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 produced significantly taller plants
which were at par with 160-80-55 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1. Nitrogen
in combination with P and K might have influenced the vegetative
growth and plant height due to increase in cell division, cell
elongation and nucleus formation2. Row ratios also did not
have any significant effect on plant height at 90 DAS for both
the parents.
Number of cobs plant-1 : A perusal of the data presented in
Table-1 indicated that in case of female parent, fertility level of
120-60-40 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 had produced significantly higher
number of cobs plant-1 which remained statistically at par with
160-80-55 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 as reported by other researcher3.
Fertility level of 200-100-70 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 recorded less
number of cobs plant-1 due to adverse effect of higher nitrogen
level. However, in case of male parent, fertility levels had no
significant effect on this attribute. Similar results were also
reported before4. Row ratios had significant influence on the
number of cobs plant-1. Row ratio of 3:1 (Female: Male) had
recorded significantly higher number of cobs which was at par
to 4:1 (Female: Male) for both the parents. The other workers
also reported similar results5-6 .
Number of seeds/grains cob-1 : A perusal of the data
presented in Table-1 indicated that fertility levels had significant
influence on the number of seeds/grains cob-1 in both parents.
Among the different fertility levels, 120-60-40 being at par with
80-40-25 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 recorded significantly higher
number of grains cob-1 in both parents. However, fertility level
of 160-80-55 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 was also at par to these in
case of female parent. The decrease in number of seeds/
grains cob-1 in treatment receiving 200-100-70 kg N-P2O5-K2O
ha-1may be due to excessive nitrogen which might have
disturbed the physiological functioning of the crop plant. Row
ratios significantly influenced this character only for female
parents. Among row ratios, 3:1 (Female: Male) recorded
significantly highest number of seeds/grains cob-1 as compared
to other row ratios. Row ratio of 4:1 (Female: Male) was the
next best followed by 5:1 (Female: Male).
Cob length: Application of 120-60-40 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 being
at par 160-80-55 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 recorded significantly
higher cob length in both parents. These results are in
(139) KUMAR, MANKOTIA AND CHOPRA

Table-1. Effect of fertility levels and row ratio on plant height (cm), number of cobs plant-1,
number of seeds/grains cob-1, cob length (cm) and 1000-seed/grain weight (g) of maize

Table-2. Effect of fertility levels and row ratio on yield (q ha-1) of maize

Table-3.Effect of fertility levels and row ratio on economics of maize

 HYBRID SEED PRODUCTION OF MAIZE
conformity with the earlier finding7. Row ratios had no significant
effect on the length of the cobs in male and female parents.
1000-seed/grain weight: It is evident from the Table-1 that
similar to cob length, among different fertility levels, 120-60-40
kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 behaved statistically similar to 160-80-55
kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 and resulted in significantly higher 1000-
grain weight as compared to other fertility levels in both parents.
The higher grain weight at 120-60-40 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 was
also reported due to more production and translocation of
synthesized carbohydrates into grain7. No significant difference
was observed on 1000-seed/grain weight as a result of different
row ratios in case of female parent, while for male parent, 3:1
(Female: Male) row ratio had recorded significantly higher 1000-
grain weight which was at par with 4:1 (Female: Male) row
ratio.
Seed/Grain yield : Data presented in Table-2 indicated that
increase in fertility level from 80-40-25 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 to
120-60-40 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 increased the seed/grain yield
significantly. Further increase in fertility level decreased the
grain yield consistently. Application of 120-60-40 kg N-P2O5-
K2O ha-1 being at par with 160-80-55 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1
recorded significantly higher seed/grain yield as compared to
200-100-70 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 and 80-40-25 kg N-P2O5-K2O
ha-1 fertility level for both the parents. Fertility level of 120-60-
40 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 was found to be optimum for more
hybrid yield. This might be due to increased number of cobs
plant-1, increased length of cobs, 1000 -grain weight and vis-a-
vis low percentage of barren, lodged and diseased plants.
Similar results were also reported in the findings conducted
by other workers8-9. Because of more number of leaves,
photosynthetic activity increases and enhances the
carbohydrate synthesis, leading to increase in the seed/grain
yield and its components. Earlier similar findings were also
reported10. Significantly lower yield was recorded with 200-
100-70 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 which might be due to the adverse
effect of higher fertility level leading to less plant population,
lodging of the plants and more disease incidence. Among row
ratios, 3:1 (Female: Male) produced significantly highest seed/
grain yield and was followed by 4:1 (Female: Male) row ratio
for both parents. Significantly lower seed/grain yield was
reported in 5:1 (Female: Male) ratio. The highest seed/grain
yield at 3:1 (Female: Male) may be attributed mainly due to
availability of sufficient viable pollens during flowering period
(140)
which ensured increased pollination and fertilization to obtain
higher hybrid seed set and yield and also increased number of
yield attributes i.e. more number of cobs plant-1 and 1000-
grain weight. The results were in agreement with the earlier
findings5.
Stover yield: A perusal of data in Table-2 revealed that among
different fertility levels, 120-60-40 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 recorded
significantly higher stover yield in case of both the parents.
However, fertility level of 80-40-25 being at par to 160-80-55 kg
N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 behaved statistically similar to it for female
parent and next best in male parent. The higher stover yield in
120-60-40 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 may be due to its superiority in
yield attributes, like more number of plants and number of
green leaves plant-1 etc. It is confirmed that too low or too high
levels of NPK will not help to increase the stover yield of maize
plant. Fertility level of 120-60-40 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 was found
to be optimum and application beyond this level will be wasteful
practice. This may again explained in terms of appropriation
between the NPK supply and plant requirements for nutrients
during the growth period of the plant. These results are in
conformity with the earlier findings11. Among row ratios, 5:1
(Female: Male) ratio recorded significantly higher stover yield
followed by 4:1 (Female: Male) and 3:1 (Female: Male) in case
of female parent. However, the trend was reverse in case of
male parents. Higher stover yield in both parents might be due
to higher plant population in said row ratios.
Economic Studies: It is revealed from the data presented in
Table-3 that application of 120-60-40 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 gave
maximum gross, net returns and B:C ratio of Rs. 1,16,859,
92,620 and 3.82, respectively. This was followed by 160-80-55
kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 with corresponding values of Rs. 1,05,679,
79,850 ha-1 and 3.09. The gross, net returns and B:C ratio
obtained with these treatments were higher due to higher grain
and stover yield of female (F1 ) and male parents and
comparatively lower cost of cultivation. Application of 200-100-
70 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 resulted in lowest economic returns
because of higher cost of fertilizers and lower yields. Net
returns as well as B:C ratio was higher when crop was sown
in 3:1 (Female: Male) row ratio. This treatment registered
highest net returns of Rs. 81,578 ha-1 and benefit: cost ratio of
3.32 which was followed by 4:1 (Female: Male) row ratio with
corresponding values of 69,550 ha-1 and 2.84, respectively.
The gross returns of Rs. 1,06,612 ha-1 were also higher in row
(141) KUMAR, MANKOTIA AND CHOPRA

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H.N. (2008). Pak. J. Agri. Res., 21: 7.
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