SEED RATE EFFECTS ON FODDER YIELD AND QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) VARIETIES SOWN UNDER IRRIGATED CONDITIONS

A field study to ascertain the seed rate (80, 100,120, 140 kg ha^-1) effects on fodder yield and quality attributes of two maize (Zea mays L.) varieties, Sadaf and Neelum, was conducted during the year, 2006. Results of the current study described that Sadaf cultivar significantly increased the green fodder (58.91 t ha^-1) and dry matter yields (8.18 t ha^-1) due to increased plant height (179.69 cm), stem diameter (3.17 cm) and number of leaves per plant (13.04), leaf area per plant (2323.71 cm²), fresh (289.96 g) and dry weights (31.03 g) per plant parallel to Neelum cultivar (P 0.05). Both cultivars (Sadaf and Neelum) produced statistically similar number of plants m^-2 (28.63 and 28.16, respectively). Crude protein (8.10%), crude fiber (31.19%), ether extractable fat (1.73%) content and ash percentage (7.26%) was also increased in Sadaf cultivar. Higher seed rate significantly increased the plant population (40.16 m^-2), plant height (198.90 cm), stem diameter (3.99 cm), green and dry matter yield (65.50 and 8.92 t ha^-1, respectively), but decreased the leaf area, fresh and dry matter content while crude protein (7.66%), crude fiber (30.83%), ether extractable fat (1.66%) and ash percentage (6.70%) content was decreased to a significant extent (P 0.05). Maximum crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat and ash contents were attained at lower seeding density. The seed rate of 80 and 100 (kg ha^-1) remaining at par in relation to protein and fat production. Maize cultivar Sadaf sown at seed rate of 140 kg ha^-1 was the best combination for getting higher green fodder yield under irrigated conditions.