Response of planting methods and nitrogen levels on quality parameters of high-quality protein maize hybrids

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy research farm, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The experiment consisted of four planting techniques viz. raised bed system (RBS), flat sowing with zero tillage (FSZT), flat sowing with minimum tillage (FSMT) and flat sowing with conventional tillage (FSCT) in main plots and two maize hybrids viz. HQPM-1 and HQPM- 5 and three nitrogen levels viz. 120, 150 and 180 kg N ha-1 in sub plots with combination, were tested in split plot design with three replications. Results indicated that the planting of maize on FSZT resulted in significantly higher lysine content (more than 3.2%) as compared to FSCT and FSMT. Among the maize hybrids, significantly higher lysine content was recorded with HQPM-5 hybrids, during both the crop seasons. Application of nitrogen @ 180 kg ha-1 produced significantly higher lysine content (more than 2.6%) compared to 120 kg ha-1 and 150 kg ha-1. FSZT with 180 kg N ha-1 recorded significantly higher tryptophan content (more than 0.85%) than FSMT and FSCT but did not differ with FSZT under 150 kg N ha-1 during both the crop seasons. FSZT planted maize with 180 kg N ha-1 had significantly highest total protein content (11.1%) over all other treatment combinations in 2014, but it was at par with FSZT planted maize with the application of 180 N kg ha-1 in 2013. Under all the planting methods, the total protein content was increased with increasing dose of nitrogenous fertilizer during both the years of study. Quality parameters viz., lysine, tryptophan and protein during the two crop seasons were appreciably higher with FSZT under HQPM-5 hybrid and 180 kg N ha-1. Stable starch, sugar, fat content and specific gravity of maize were not influenced significantly by different planting methods, maize hybrids and N levels during both the crop seasons.