EVALUATING SEEDLING TRANSPLANTATION OF SAU WHITE MAIZE-3 UNDER VARYING SOIL MOISTURE AND SEEDLING LENGTHS

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the central Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher- e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh to evaluate seedling transplantation of two SAU white maize-3 during the period from November- 2021 to March- 2022 under varying seedling length and soil moisture regime. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Eleven treatment combinations, viz. SSWLC = shorter seedlings waterlogged condition; SSPC = shorter seedlings transplanting at puddled condition; SS-SC = shorter seedlings transplanting at saturated condition; SSFc = shorter seedlings transplanting at field capacity condition; SSFcFw = shorter seedlings transplanting at field capacity by watering; SSDS = shorter seedlings at direct sowing; LSWLC = longer seedlings waterlogged condition; LSPC = longer seedlings transplanting at puddled condition; LS-SC = longer seedlings transplantation at saturated condition; LSFc = longer seedlings transplanting at field capacity condition; LSFcFw = longer seedlings transplanting at field capacity by watering were included in this study. Results indicated that seedling transplanting, and soil moisture had significant effect on growth, yield and yield contributing characters of SAU white maize 3. In the case of maximum value of growth were

observed in LSFcFw treatment ( Longer seedlings transplanting at field capacity by watering ) compared to other treatments. In case of yield attributes, the maximum grain yield (11.76 t ha ), stover yield (10.60 t ha -1 ) and biological yield (22.36 t ha ii -1 ) were observed in LSFcFw treatment ( longer seedlings transplanting at Field capacity by watering ) compared to other treatments and harvest index (52.59%) was recorded from the treatment LSFcFw which was identically similar with all other treatments. Thus, for the cultivation of “SAU white maize 3 along with LSFcFw treatment ( longer seedlings transplanting at field capacity by watering ) can be used as recommended treatment for the production of highest grain yield in the AEZ 28 (Agro-ecological zone) soils of Bangladesh.