VALIDATION OF CERES-MAIZE MODEL FOR HYBRID MAIZE UNDER VARIED NITROGEN LEVELS AND PLANT DENSITIES N. MAHESH B.Sc. (Ag.) MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE (AGRONOMY) 2014 VALIDATION OF CERES-MAIZE MODEL FOR HYBRID MAIZE UNDER VARIED NITROGEN LEVELS AND PLANT DENSITIES By N.MAHESH B.Sc (Ag.) THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE ACHARYA N.G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE (AGRONOMY) CHAIRPERSON: Dr. P. LEELA RANI DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE ACHARYA N.G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY RAJENDRANAGAR, HYDERABAD – 500 030. 2014 CERTIFICATE Mr. N. MAHESH has satisfactorily prosecuted the course of research and that thesis entitled “VALIDATION OF CERES-MAIZE MODEL FOR HYBRID MAIZE UNDER VARIED NITROGEN LEVELS AND PLANT DENSITIES" submitted, is the result of original research work and is of sufficiently high standard to warrant its presentation to the examination. I also certify that neither the thesis nor its part there of has been previously submitted by him for a degree of any University. Date : (Dr. P. LEELA RANI) Chairperson CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the thesis entitled “VALIDATION OF CERES-MAIZE MODEL FOR HYBRID MAIZE UNDER VARIED NITROGEN LEVELS AND PLANT DENSITIES" submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of ‘Master of Science in Agriculture’ of the Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad is a record of the bonafide original research work carried out by Mr. N. MAHESH under our guidance and supervision. No part of the thesis has been submitted by the student for any other degree or diploma. The published part and all assistance and help received during the course of the investigations have been duly acknowledged by the author of the thesis. Chairman Advisory Committee Thesis approved by the Student’s Advisory Committee Chairman : Dr. P. LEELA RANI Senior Scientist (Agronomy), AICRP on weed control, Diamond Jublee Block, _________________ Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500 030. Member : Dr. G. SREENIVAS Principal Scientist (Agronomy), Agro Climate Research Centre, _________________ Agricultural Research Institute, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500 030 Member : Dr. A. MADHAVI Senior Scientist (Soil Science), Radio Tracer Laboratory (RTL), _________________ Agricultural Research Institute, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500 030 Date of final viva-voce: DECLARATION I, N. MAHESH, hereby declare that the thesis entitled “VALIDATION OF CERES-MAIZE MODEL FOR HYBRID MAIZE UNDER VARIED NITROGEN LEVELS AND PLANT DENSITIES" submitted to the Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University for the degree of Master of Science in Agriculture is the result of original research work done by me. I also declare that no material contained in the thesis has been published earlier in any manner. Place : (N. MAHESH) I.D. No. RAM/2012-04 Date : ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I deem it as a great pleasure to express my heart felt gratitude and respect to the chairman of my advisory committee, Dr. P. Leela Rani, Senior Scientist (Agronomy), AICRP on weed control, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Her meticulous guidance, untiring interest and well timed suggestions right from the initial stages till the completion of my research work, are unparalleled. I am indeed greatly indebted for the affectionate encouragement and cooperation received from her. I wish to proper my genuine thanks to, Dr. G.Sreenivas, Principal Scientist (Agronomy), Agroclimate Research Centre, Agricultural Research Institute, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad and member of my advisory committee for his benign help and transcendent suggestions during the course of investigation and for critical perusal of manuscript. I am extremely grateful to Dr. A. Madhavi, Senior Scientist (Soil Science), Radio tracer laboratory (RTL), Agricultural Research Institute, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, and member of my advisory committee for her pragmatic suggestions and valuable help extending during my research work. My heartfelt thanks to Dr. A. Srinivas, Professor & Head, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar for his valuable help and providing all facilities for the research work. I sincerely extend my profound gratitude to Dr. G. E. CH. Vidya Sagar, Professor, Dr. K.B. Sunitha Devi, Professor, Dr.M.Madhavi, Professor, Dr. K.P. Vani, Associate Professor, Dr. Y. Shivalaxmi, Assistant Professor Dr. K. Bhanu Rekha, Assistant Professor, Laxman, A.O Dept. Of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad for their support and encouragement during the course of my study. I allocate my highest respect and heartful regards from my inner core of heart to my ever loved parents, Sri. Janardhan Reddy and Smt. vijaya, who have given me life and taught the concepts of life and their dedicated efforts to educate me to this level. With boundless affection, I owe an encompassing debt to most my beloved brother venkatesh for constant encouragement throughout my career. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the affection and inspiration rendered by my friends Tinku, Gunnu, DK, Madhan, Naveen, Nagraju, Karna, Bharat, Suresh, Sridhar, Shiva, Venu, Rp, and Jp. And my classmates, Thirupathi, Nagender, Narender, Naresha, Anil, Kishore, Byomkesh, Meena, Partha, Pallavi, Vijayalaxmi, Divya, Swetha, Revathi and Afsha for their special upliftment during my studies and worries; and juniors Ramakrishna, vijay, sai, kalyan and Mahesh in whose cheerful company I have never felt my work as burden. I express my heartfelt gratitude and thanks to my seniors Omprakash, Rajesh, Sreedhar, Rajender, Natraj, Kiran, Shivaprasad, Madhusudhan, Madhukar, Chiranjeevi, Ravi, Bharath, Gouse, Sudhakara, Siddappa, Shalini, Soumya, Nalini, Samatha, Spandana and Swrana, for their valuable guidance and encouragement. I am thankful to Osman, college farm, Sardarbi, Lavanya, Raju, Tony and Chandrakala and other non teaching staff of the Department of Agronomy for their timely assistance and cooperation. I express my immense and whole hearted thanks to all my near for their cooperation, help during the course of study and research. I humbly thank to authorities of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University for the financial help in the form of stipend during my study period. Nalla Mahesh LIST OF CONTENTS CHAPTER TITLE PAGE NO. NO. I INTRODUCTION II REVIEW OF LITERATURE III MATERIAL AND METHODS IV RESULTS AND DISCUSSION V SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS LITERATURE CITED APPENDICES LIST OF TABLES Table Title Page No. No. 3.1 Physico-chemical properties of the soil 3.2 Cropping history of experimental plot 4.1 Plant height (cm) of maize at different growth stages as influenced by plant densities and nitrogen levels 4.2 Number of days to attain different phenophases of maize as influenced by plant densities and nitrogen levels 4.3 Leaf Area Index (LAI) of maize at different growth stages as influenced by plant densities and nitrogen levels 4.4 Dry matter production (g plant-1) of maize at different phenophases as influenced by plant densities and nitrogen levels 4.5 Dry matter (g plant-1) partitioning at maturity stage of maize as influenced by plant densities and nitrogen levels 4.6 Yield attributes of maize as influenced by plant densities and nitrogen levels 4.7 Grain yield, stover yield and Harvest index (HI) of maize as influenced by plant densities and nitrogen levels 4.8 Nitrogen uptake (g plant-1) by maize at different growth stages as influenced by plant densities and nitrogen levels 4.9 Gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio of maize as influenced by plant densities and nitrogen levels 4.10 Intercepted PAR (%) of maize at different growth stages as influenced by plant densities and nitrogen levels 4.11 Radiation use efficiency (RUE) (g MJ-1) of maize at different growth stages as influenced by plant densities and nitrogen levels 4.12 Correlation coefficients between growth parameters and grain yield of maize 4.13 Correlation coefficients between yield attributes and grain yield of maize 4.14 Genetic coefficients of Deklab Super 900M used for CERES- Maize model 4.15 Comparison of simulated and observed days to attain silking of maize under varied nitrogen levels and plant densities 4.16 Comparison of simulated and observed days to attain physiological maturity of maize under varied nitrogen levels and plant densities 4.17 Statistical indices used in the validation of CERES-maize model 4.18 Tukeys test (HSD) for mean grain yield (kg ha-1) of maize at different levels of plant densities 4.19 Tukeys test (HSD) for mean grain yield (kg ha-1) of maize at different levels of nitrogen