2024, Vol. 7, Issue 7, Part F

author(s)
Y Kiranmai and MP Potdar

abstract
Moisture stress one of the most severe environmental stresses causing significant damage to agricultural crop production. It inhibits growth and development in plants. Maize plants are sensitive to moisture stress. In this regard, an experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications and nine treatments (Irrigations scheduled at different growth stages and varying the stage and number of irrigations) during rabi (2021-22) at University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad to study the influence of induced moisture stress on yield, yield attributes and economics of rabi maize. Results revealed that grain rows cob^-1 (15.2), number of grains row^-1 (33.6), number of grains cob^-1 (509.6), cob weight (174.8 g), grain weight cob^-1 (130.1g), shelling percentage (74.5%) and test weight (34.6 g) recorded with irrigations at all growth stages and at par with skipping irrigation only at milky stage. Significantly higher kernel yield (7040.7 kg ha^-1), gross monetary returns (1,44,514 ha^-1), net monetary returns ( 99,052 ha^-1) and benefit- cost ratio (3.18) were obtained with irrigations at all stages. Higher kernel yield reduction (62.7%) was recorded with irrigations upto knee high stage followed by skipping irrigation at all critical stages recorded the next highest kernel yield reduction (61.2%). Among combination of growth stages, skipping of irrigation at both tasseling and silking higher yield reduction (47.7%) over other combination of skipping growth stages.