Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter vol 83 2009

Please Note: Notes submitted to the Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter may be cited only with consent of authors.

 

 

Shalimar Maize Hybrid-1 a high yielding maize hybrid under high altitude conditions of Kashmir valley

 

A.G.Rather, S.Najeeb, F.A.Sheikh , Shafiq A wani, A.A.wani, M.A.Bhat and M.A.Ahanger

 

                    High Altitude Maize Research Sub-Station, Sagam

Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir

 

 

  High altitudes( >6500 ft amsl) cover 75 %  of the total maize area (1 lakh hectare)  in the Kashmir valley.  The  average productivity of  maize  under high altitude conditions is very low (around 10q/ha) which is dismal when compared to national productivity ( 2.2 t /ha). The low productivity is mainly attributed to  the fact that the farmers mainly grow the traditional  varieties and land races which are not only low yielding but highly susceptible to biotic and a biotic stresses. To boost the maize production, SKUAST-K has recently released a high yielding hybrid of maize(Shalimar Maize Hybrid-1)  suitable for high altitude agro- climatic  conditions of Kashmir valley. The hybrid has been developed exploiting the hybrid vigour between two elite maize inbreds( W3 & W5)ater selection and proper assessment over location and years. The hybrid  has shown excellent performance in different locations of the state with an average yield superiority  of 26.6  against the standard check (C15) in the target environment.(Table 1). The benefit cost ratio of this variety has been worked out as2.4 as against 1.22 C15(Table 2). The specific area of adaptation for this variety include high altitudes of Kashmir between 1800-2250 meters amsl (rainfed)

 

 

Timely sown crop with adequate moisture at critical growth stages like tasseling, silking and grain filling with soils having good quantity of organic manure and fertilizer are the prerequisite to exploit the maximum potential of this variety(Table-3)

 

The major challenges to maize cultivation under high altitude conditions of Kashmir valley include diseases mainly Turcicum leaf blight and common rust which take a heavy tool of the crop. The hybrid  under report has shown moderately resistance to Turcicum leaf blight and common rust (Table 4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 Table 1. Yield performance(q/ha) of Shalimar maize  hybrid-1 over years and locations Under high altitude conditions of Kashmir

 

S.No

Variety

Mean(Kg/ha)

% increase over check

1

Shalimar maize hybrid-1

40.4

26.6

2

C 15(check)

31.9

 

Table 2. Benefit: cost ratio analysis of seed production (ha-1) of Shalimar Maize Hybrid-1

 

Variety

Cost of cultivation

Returns

Benefit

Ratio

(Benefit/cost)

W3 x W5

27540

93570

66030

2.4

 

C 15(check)

15930

35500

19570

1.22

             

Table 3.Agronomic practices for Shalimar Maize Hybrid-1  to exploit the maximum potential of the crop

1

Sowing time

1st. week of April to last week of April

2

ii. Spacing (cm)

 

60 x 20

3

. Seed rate (kg ha-1)

 

25 kg for line-sowing and 35 kg for broadcasting

4

.Fertilizer responsiveness

Irrigated: N,P2O5 and K20 @ 90, 60 and 40  kg ha-1

Unirrigated: N,P2o5 and K20  @ 60, 40 and 20 kg ha-1

Compost/FYM:150q ha-1

 

Table4.  Screening of Shalimar Maize Hybrid-1against reaction to major diseases

Cultivar

Turcicum leaf blight

(%)

Common rust

(%)

Shalimar Maize Hybrid-1

18.1 (2)

17.3 (2)

C 15(check)

33.2 (3)

35.5  (3)

Figures in parentheses indicate disease score

 

 

  Fig. 1    Shalimar Maize Hybrid-1 along with parents(W3 & W5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   

 

Fig.2.  Shalimar Maize Hybrid-1

 

 

Please Note: Notes submitted to the Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter may be cited only with consent of authors.