EFFECT OF VARIOUS TILLAGE METHODS AND NITROGEN MANAGEMENT ON WEEDS AND MAIZE PERFORMANCE

Weeds are the major source of yield loss in maize crop. To investigate the effect of different tillage practices and nitrogen (N) management techniques, an experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Farm, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan during summer 2010. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement having three replications. The experiment consisted of 10 fertilizer treatments i.e. control, sole nitrogen, farm yard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM), 75% N (mineral) + 25% FYM, 50% mineral N + 50% FYM, 25 % mineral N + 75% FYM, 75% N + 25% PM, 50% mineral N + 50% PM, and 25% mineral N + 75% PM; and three tillage practices viz. reduced tillage (RT), conventional tillage (CT) and deep tillage (DT). Maize variety “Azam” was sown with a plot size of 4.5m x 5m for each experimental unit. Tillage practices were kept in main plots while N treatments were allotted to the sub plots. Tillage practices and N management significantly affected weed density, fresh and dry weed biomass and yield components of maize. Weed density and fresh and dry weed biomass were significantly higher for RT followed by CT and DT. Application of half mineral N and half PM produced the highest thousand grain weight, grain yield and biological yield of maize. In contrary, half mineral N + half PM resulted in lowest weed density, fresh weed biomass and dry weed biomass. Tillage also influenced yield and yield components of maize as highest thousand grain weight, grain yield and biological yield was produced by CT. It was concluded that management of organic and inorganic N application and CT has a beneficial effect on weed control and maize yield.