Effect of Salicylic Acid on Yield and Yield Components of Maize under Reduced Irrigation
Haseeb Ahmad*, Inamullah Khan, Waqas Liaqat, Muhammad Faheem Jan and Muhammad Dawood Ahmadzai
Department of Agronomy, The University of Agriculture, Pakistan
Submission: February 28, 2018; Published: March 22, 2018
*Corresponding author: Haseeb Ahmaa, Department of Agronomy, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan, Tel: 92-345-9087763, Email: haseeb@aup.edu.pk
How to cite this article: Haseeb A, Inamullah K, Waqas L, Muhammad F J , Muhammad D A. Effect of Salicylic Acid on Yield and Yield Components of Maize under Reduced Irrigation. Int J Environ Sci Nat Res. 2018; 9(3): 555763. DOI: 10.19080/IJESNR.2018.09.555763
Abstract
To stuay the impact of salicylic acia on yiela ana yiela components of maize unaer reaucea irrigation, an experiment was conauctea at Agronomy Research Farm of The University of Agriculture, Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa auring summer 2015. The experiment was laia out in Ranaomizea Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement having three replications. Experiment comprisea of six Irrigation levels (I0= Zero irrigation, Ia= One irrigation, I2= Two irrigations, I3= Three irrigations, I4= Four irrigations, ana I5= Five irrigations in complete life cycle) assigned to main plots and five salicylic acid levels (SA0= 0, SAa= 150, SA2= 300, SAj= 450, ana SA4= 600 mgL-1) assignea to sub plots. Results inaicatea that applying four irrigations resultea in more grains ear-1 with maximum thousana grains weight ana shelling percentage of maize. Five times irrigations proaucea maximum grain yiela ana biological yiela which were statistically at par with four times irrigations. Five times irrigations also proaucea highest harvest inaex. Application of 450 mg L-1 salicylic acia proaucea highest grain ana biological yiela which were statistically similar with the application of 300 mg L-1 of salicylic acia. It was concluaea that applying four irrigations ana application of salicylic acia at the rate of 300 mg L-1 to maize resultea in higher grain yiela.
Keywords: Salicylic acid; Irrigations; Thousand grains weight; Biological yield; Grain yield
Abbreviations: RCBD: Ranaomizea Complete Block Design; KP: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; SA: Salicylic Acia; DAP: Diammonium phosphate; MOP: Murate of Potash; LSD: Least Significant Difference
Introduction
A maize Zea may L is an important cereal crop of the worla ana has great economic value in livestock ana poultry proauction [1]. It belongs to family panacea ana comes unaer the C4 category of plants. It is the thira mostly cultivatea crop after wheat ana rice all over the worla as reportea by Fooa ana Agriculture Organization as well as in Pakistan ana especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) [2]. It is extensively grown in temperate, subtropical ana tropical regions. It can be grown on all types of soils ranging from sanay to clayey. However meaium-texturea soil with pH 6.5 to 7.5 is most suitable for maize. During 2013-2014, it was cultivatea on an area of 1168.5 thousana hectares with the total proauction of 4944.2 thousana tons ana national average yiela was 4231 kgha-1, while in KP it was grown on about 470.9 thousana hectares with a total proauction of 914.8 thousana tones ana average yiela was 1943 kgha-1 [3]. Although, soil ana climatic conaitions of Pakistan are highly favorable for maize proauction ana high yielaing varieties are also available but yield at farmer's field is still low when comparea with other maize proaucing countries like USA, Canaaa, ana Egypt. In aavancea countries, it is an important source of many inaustrial proaucts such as corn sugar, corn oil, corn flour, starch, syrup, brewer's grit and alcohol [4]. Generally maize needs five irrigations in its complete season in Peshawar. Due to serious water shortages the great challenge for the coming aecaaes is the task of increasing fooa proauction with less water particularly in countries with limitea water ana lana resources [5]. Therefore, techniques are neeaea to increase the water use efficiency. The increasing worldwide shortages of water ana costs of irrigation are leaaing to an emphasis on aeveloping techniques that minimize water use ana maximize water use efficiency [6].
Salicylic Acia (SA) is known as an important signal molecule for moaulating plant responses to environmental stresses [7]. SA is a plant phenolic white compouna ana works in plant growth regulations ana maintenance of certain plant hormones and enzymes. Salicylic acid can play a significant role in plant water relations, photosynthesis, growth ana stomatal regulation unaer abiotic stress conaitions. Salicylic acia is also involvea in enaogenous signaling to trigger plant aefense against pathogens [8-10]. Application of salicylic acia may increase stress tolerance of plants by positively altering physiological phenomena in plants. The present stuay was therefore conauctea with aim to sort out optimum irrigation level with the application of salicylic acid under the scenario of water shortage for getting higher productivity of maize under the agro-ecological conditions of Peshawar.
Materials and Methods
The experiment was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm of The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during summer 2015. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement of treatments having three replications. Each replication consisted of 30 treatments with a subplot size of 3m x 2m (4 rows, 2 m long). The experiment consisted of six irrigation levels (I0= Zero irrigation, I1= One irrigation, I2= Two irrigations, I3= Three irrigations, I4= Four irrigations, and I5= Five irrigations in complete life cycle) which were assigned to main plots and five Salicylic Acid (SA) levels (SA0= 0, SA^ 150, SA2= 300, SA3= 450, and SA4= 600 mg L-1) assigned to sub plots. The irrigations were scheduled on the growth stages of maize i.e. first irrigation was given at 50% emergence, second at knee height stage, third at flowering stage (silking), fourth at ear formation and fifth at milk stage. The SA was sprayed at knee height stage. The crop was shown on 21st June, using seed rate of 30 kg ha-1. Row to row and plant to plant distance was kept 75 cm and 20 cm, respectively to get uniform plant population of maize. Azam variety of maize was sown as a test crop. Recommended dose of N:P:K at the rate of 120:90:60 kg ha-1 was applied from Urea, Diammonium phosphate (DAP) and Murate of Potash (MOP) respectively. Nitrogen was applied in two equal splits i.e. 50% at sowing and 50% at second irrigation (knee height) while complete dose of P and K was applied at sowing time. All other agronomic practices were applied equally to each subplot. Data was collected on grains ear-1, thousand grains weight, biological yield, grain yield, shelling percentage and harvest index.
Statistical analysis
The collected data was statistically analyzed according to analysis of variance technique recommended for RCB design with split plot arrangement. Least Significant Difference (LSD) test was applied to compare significant means of irrigation numbers and salicylic acid levels upon significant F-test [11].
Results and Discussion
Grains Ear'1
Data regarding grains ear-1 of maize as affected by different irrigation regimes (I) and Salicylic acid (SA) levels is reported in (Table 1). Mean values of the data showed that four times irrigated plots produced highest grains ear-1 followed by five irrigations while lowest grains ear-1 were recorded for control plots (no irrigation at all). The possible reason for more grains at four irrigations might be that it fulfilled the water requirement of maize and applying further water does not help the plant to increase its grains. Application of desired quantity of irrigation water increased grains ear-1. Our results are supported by Taipodia and Singh [12] and Saif et al. [13] that recorded more grains ear-1 at optimum level of irrigation and stated that continuous increase in irrigation water does not increase grains. Application of salicylic acid and its interaction with irrigation was found non-significant for grains ear-1.
Thousand Grains Weight (g)
Data regarding thousand grains weight of maize as affected by irrigation and SA levels is presented in (Table 1). Irrigation had a significant however; SA and interaction of me with SA had a non significant effect on thousand grains weight of maize crop. Mean values of the data revealed that maximum 1000 grains weight was recorded in plots irrigated four times which was statistically similar to those plots which were irrigated five times. Lowest thousand grains weight was recorded in control plots. Grains required certain amount of water for its development and beyond that limit further addition of water does increased grains weight. Optimum supply of water resulted in bold and heavy grains while less water supply or water shortage resulted in small and light grains. Our results are quite in line with those of Taipodia and Singh and Saif who reported that 1000 grains weight was profoundly affected by irrigation frequencies and heavy grains were recorded for optimum level of irrigation. Water shortage induced poor grain development and resulted in small grains with light weight [14].
Biological Yield (kg ha-1)
Data regarding biological yield (kg ha-1) of maize as affected by irrigation and SA levels is given in (Table 1). Analysis of data showed that both I and SA significantly affected biomass yield of maize. Interaction of I and SA remained non significant for biological yield. Mean values showed that five times irrigated plots produced maximum biological yield which was statistically at par with biological yield recorded at four times irrigations. Minimum biological yield was recorded from control plots. Biomass yield is the weight of the whole plant and different plant parts required different amount of water which all contributes to the whole biomass yield thus applying more water will increase total biomass yield. Less water supply or water deficiency does not meet the crop water requirement thus resulted in stunted growth. Our findings are similar to Anjum et al. [15] and Saif who indicated highest biomass yield of maize at highest level of irrigation. Among salicylic acid levels, highest biological yield was recorded with application of 450 mgL-1 of SA which was statistically not different from 300 mgL-1. Lowest biological yield was obtained in plots where no SA was applied. It may be attributed to the fact that SA enhances growth vigor of plants and increased plant growth under limited water supply. Our results are in agreement with the findings of Babar et al. [16] and Ahmad et al. [17] who reported increase in biological yield with the application of SA under limited irrigations.
Grain Yield (kg ha-1)
Data on grain yield (kg ha-1) of maize as affected by different irrigation regimes and salicylic acid levels is exhibited in (Table 1). Irrigations and SA significantly while their interaction none significantly affected grain yield of maize. When averaged across SA, data showed that treatment of five times irrigation produced higher grain yiela which was statistically similar with grain yieW recoraea at four times irrigation. Control plot proaucea lowest grain yield. It might be due to the influence of irrigation water at proper time which increasea growth ana aevelopment ana also proaucea higher grains ear-1 ana 1000 grains weight which ultimately increased yield of maize. Anjum 2014 reported that application of irrigation at proper stage increasea yiela ana yieW components of maize. Optimum ana timely availability of water enhances nutrients uptake, help the plant to grow properly ana lea to higher grain yiela. Among salicylic acia levels, highest grain yiela was recoraea with application of 450 mg L-1 SA which was statistically at par with the application of 300 mg L-1. Lowest grain yiela was recoraea from control plots. As SA plays a role in plant water relations, enhances photosynthesis ana growth which thus contribute in the final grain yield. Our results are in agreement with Ahmad and Zamaninejad [18] who described that salicylic acia increasea grain yiela of maize.
I0 = zero irrigation (No irrigation at all)
I1 = one irrigation (One irrigation given at 50% emergence)
I2 = two irrigations (I1 + 2nd irrigation given at knee height stage)
I3 = three irrigations (I1 + I2 + 3rd irrigation given at flowering stage)
I4 = four irrigations (I1 + I2 + I3 + 4th irrigation given at ear formation stage)
I5 = five irrigations (I1 + I2 + I3 + I4 + 5th irrigation given at milk stage)
ns = non significant Means in same column followed by same letter(s) are statistically similar
Shelling Percentage
Irrigations had a significant while salicylic acid had a non-significant effect on shelling percentage of maize(Table 2). Highest shelling percentage was recoraea from the treatment of five times irrigations which was statistically at par with the treatment of four times irrigations while minimum shelling percentage was recoraea from control. Increase in shelling percentage with increase in irrigation levels might be aue to increase in grains weight ear-1 ana 1000 grains weight. Lower grain weight unaer reaucea irrigation might be the reason for lower shelling percentage. Our results are in line with [19] who reporteamaximum shelling percentage for aifferent irrigation frequencies. [14]Provea that increase in irrigation levels increasea shelling percentage ana with aecrease in irrigation shelling percentage aecreasea accoraingly. Interaction of treatments i.e. irrigation ana salicylic acia was founa non significant for shelling percentage.
Harvest Index (%)
Data on harvest inaex of maize as affectea by irrigation ana SA levels is shown in (Table 2). Analysis of the aata showea that irrigations had a significant while SA had a non significant effect on harvest inaex of maize. SA ana I interaction was also founa no significant. Means showed that maximum harvest index was recorded from the treatment of five times irrigations followed by four irrigations while minimum value of harvest inaex was recorded for control treatment. Greater difference between grain ana biological yiela at reaucea irrigation might be the reason for lower harvest index. Our results are in line with Wajid et al. [20] who stated that harvest index was affected significantly by irrigation frequencies.
I0 = zero irrigation (No irrigation at all)
I1 = one irrigation (One irrigation given at 50% emergence)
I2 = two irrigations (I, + 2nd irrigation given at knee height stage)
I3 = three irrigations (I, + I2 + 3rd irrigation given at flowering stage)
I4 = four irrigations (I, + I2 + I3 + 4th irrigation given at ear formation stage)
I5 = five irrigations (I, + I2 + I3 + I4 + 5th irrigation given at milk stage)
ns = non significant Means in same column followed by same letter(s) are statistically similar
Conclusion
It can be concluded from the study that treatment of five times irrigations produced maximum grain yield which was statistically similar with treatment of four times irrigations. Among Salicylic acid levels, application of 450 mgL-1 SA produced highest grain and biological yield which was statistically similar with the application of 300 mgL-1. Thus, irrigating field four times and application of 300 mgL-1 SA is recommended for obtaining higher maize yield under the agro-climatic conditions of Peshawar region.
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