Impact of crop lodging on maize yield parameters, yield and ear abnormalities across diverse tillage practices and nutrient levels

Abstract

Crop lodging pose a significant challenge to maize, especially when strong wind coincides with rains. In the present study we have tested the impact of two tillage systems (conventional tillage with flat sowing and conventional tillage with ridge sowing) and four nutrient levels (50%, 100%, 75% and 150% RDF) on maize crop lodging during kharif 2023. Crop lodging was noticed at R2-R3 development stages in maize. The better root system at conservation agriculture nullifies the effect of plant height and plant weight on lodging and therefore root lodging was similar at both the tillage systems. Contrarily, the increased plant height, cob and plant weight under CA + flat planting led to greater incidence of stem lodging (11.7%) as well as total lodging (66.3%) as compared to CT + ridge planting. Root lodging was more severe at both sup-optimal (50 and 75% RDF) and super-optimal (150% RDF) nutrient application, while stem lodging and total lodging were greater at 150% RDF. Among the various nutrient levels, optimal application of nutrients at 100% RDF resulted into least problem of root lodging. Yield losses by root lodged plants were around 50% over standing plants. Stem lodging exhibited 100% yield penalty due to complete stem breakage. Main causes of yield loss were from reduced cob weight, kernel number and cob length. Poor kernel setting at 50% RDF contributed to higher yield loss. Lodging in reproductive stages increased ear abnormalities, vivipary, fungal infection which further reduced grain quality parameters of maize.