TITLE EFFECT OF SOWING DATE ON GROWTH

AND YIELD OF POP CORN IN DANG, NEPAL

LOCATION OF RESEARCH Satbariya 8, Lamahi, Dang

DURATION OF RESEARCH Poush 2075 to Jestha 2076

ESTIMATED BUDGET 19500

RESEARCHER Samita Karki, B. Sc. Horticulture

Mahendra Ratna Multiple Campus
CONTACT 9805734248
E- mail [email protected]
ADVISOR Asst. professor Ganesh Rawat
Head of Department, B. Sc. Horticulture
Mahendra Ratna Multiple Campus

1. Introduction
1.1. Background Information
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop, cultivated throughout the world. It is
an important staple food crop and provides bulk of raw materials for the livestock and
many agro-allied industries in the world. It is the third important crop worldwide after
wheat and rice in terms of production and productivity. Globally, maize is referred as
‘Miracle crop’ or ‘Queen of the Cereals’ due to its high productivity potential
compared to other Gramineae family members. Maize is the second most important
staple food crops both in term of area and production after rice in Nepal (MoAD
2017). It is grown in about 9,24,321 hectares of land with 23,6,675 metric tons of total
production with 2.33 mt ha-1 productivity (Agriculture Diary 2075). Maize
contributes 9.5% AGDP and 3.15% GDP (MoAD, 2017). Maize occupies about
28.32% of the total agricultural land cultivated, and shares about 23.89% of the total
cereal production in Nepal (MoAC,2017). It is a traditional crop cultivated as food,
feed and fodder on slopping Bari land (rainfed upland) in the hills. It is grown under
rainfed conditions during summer (April-August) as a single crop or relayed with
millet later in the season. In terai, inner-terai, valleys, and low-lying river basin areas,
maize is also grown in the winter and spring with irrigation facilities. In Nepal, a total
of 32 maize varieties (OP, QPM & Hybrids) has been released and 54 Multinational
Company’s Hybrids have been registered till date . No any popcorn genotypes have
been registered/ released till date in Nepal.

1.2. Statement of problem

 Maize is the traditional crop cultivated as food, feed and fodder on slopping Bari land
(rain fed upland) in the hills. It is the important cereal crop grown under rainfed
condition during the summer (April-August) as a sole crop. Lack of adequate irrigation
facilities, insect pest infestation, water and temperature stress during growing season,
lack of knowledge about appropriate sowing time are some of the major causes for
lower production. Most preferable time for sowing maize in this area Dang is during
1st week of March to April. Maize planted during March-April (Chaitra) is exposed to
higher temperature and requires more water during the growing period. During
summer due to higher temperature, lower rate of photosynthesis and high rate of
respiration takes place which results in lower accumulation of photosynthates and
hence lower yield. In contrast, the temperature is lower in winter season that results in
higher accumulation of photosynthetes which cause bold grains, more no of kernels,
longer ear length, more no of ear rows and ultimately higher yield. (Tripathi, Shrestha
, & Gurung, 2016). Despite the potentiality, all field areas do not have access to
adequate irrigation facilities, so the production is below optimum. Furthermore, water
stress associated with high temperature is the main limiting factor in maize production

1.3. Rationale of study

Among the maize growing areas of Dang district, Satbariya is a high potential area for
maize and maize seed production. Interest in producing a commercial popcorn crop
(Zea mays L. subsp. everta) in Dang district has been growing steadily, due to the
potentially higher economic returns as compared with common corn. However, there
is a lack of information regarding the specific popcorn crop management techniques,
farmers use the same crop management techniques employed for common corn.
Therefore, technological development regarding management and cultivation of the
popcorn crop is necessary. Farmers also face several problems regarding irrigation,
soil moisture status, sunshine hours, atmospheric condition are lagging behind the
production and productivity of maize. Mainly in the area with limited irrigation
facilities water stress is a key factor that restricts the grain yield. It is known that the
problems during plant growth for summer planting including, high temperature stress
and insect pest infestation. Farmers mainly in this area grow the pop corn variety
during the month of March, and sometime extend it up to May under rainfed
condition. The overall scenario of problems among maize growers indicates towards
determining the suitable planting date to increase the maize yield and water use
efficiency in rainfed farming system. So, shifting the planting time earlier than
Chaitra may help to cope with problem of changing atmospheric condition, water use
efficiency and also reduce the temperature and water stress during growth stages of
maize. Early and late planting both influence the crop growth by changing the
relationship between hydrothermal factors and growth stages. (Wang, Li, Mo, Cai, &
Bian, 2017)Of all management aspect of growing maize crop, planting date is
probably the most subject to variation because of the very great difference in weather
condition at planting time between seasons and within the range of climate (Otegui,
Nicolini, Ruiz, & Dodds, 1995). Environmental changes associated with different
sowing dates have modifying effect on growth and development of Maize. To date the
challenges among maize growers in Dang district is to find the optimum planting time
which helps to overcome the irrigation problem for increasing the production and
 productivity. Therefore, study should focus on evaluating the effects of planting date
on grain yield and its component of spring maize to increase the efficiency of maize
production.

1.4. Objective
1.4.1. General objective
 To determine the effect of sowing dates on growth and yield of pop corn
1.4.2. Specific objective
 To study the growth and yield response of various sowing dates on pop corn
varieties grown during spring season.

1.5 Hypothesis

Ho: There is no variation in yield of popcorn in different sowing dates.

H1: There is variation in yield of popcorn as per different sowing dates.

2. Literature review
2.1. Status of Maize Production in Nepal
In Nepal maize is produced and consumed as one of the important staple crops in
significant amount. In Nepal, maize ranks second most important crop in terms of area
and production (MoAD, 2016).It is a traditional crop grown for food, feed and fodder.
Maize demand has been constantly growing by about 5% annually in the last decades of
Nepal. (Sapkota D, 2010). Per capita maize consumption in Nepal is 98 g/person/day
(Ranum, Pena-Rosas, & Garsia-Casal, 2014).Of the total maize area about 78% falls in
the hills area (mid hills 70%, and high hills 8%). Demand for feed and food is increasing
annually but the present production is not sufficient to meet the increasing demand. The
farm level yield of maize (2.45 t/ha) is not satisfactory as compared to attainable yield
(5.7 t/ha) in Nepal (MoAD, 2014); KC et al., 2015). In the hills of Nepal, more than 86%
maize production has been used for human consumption and 80% maize production in the
Terai is used for poultry and animal feed (Gurung et al., 2011). However, there is some
rise in production of maize in the terai and is not enough to keep up with the increased
demand of food and feed industry. Though the yield level of maize seems rising for years,
it is at quite slow rate. The maize productivity of 1.63 t/ ha in the 1990/91 has just
reached to 2.50t/ha in the 2015/16 (ABPSD, 2015/2016) and present yield level is still far
behind the 4.3t/ha of global average (FAO, 2015).Since three years from 2069/70, area
 under maize production (849635 ha) with productivity 2353 kg/ha) is increased (928761
ha) in the FY 2070/71 and slightly decreased (882365 ha) in the FY 2071/72 (AICC,
2016). Again, in the year 2072/73, area under maize cultivation increased by 1% and the
production increased by 4% (MoF, 2015/16). However, productivity of maize is nearly
similar i.e. 2.4 ton per hectare in the year 2070 till 2072 in the country and slightly
increased to 2.5 ton per hectare by 2072/73 (AICC, 2016).Maize is cultivated under area
8, 91,523 ha with production 22, 31,517MT and productivity 2.5MT/ha (MoAD, 2016)

2.2 Sowing time

For effective growth and development of maize planting time plays a key role. Optimum
planting date is a cost-less tool to improve the yield of Maize. (Shrestha, Amgain, Karki,
Dahal, & Shrestha, 2016)Spring maize is normally planted in mid of February . Maize
planted in earlier spring season is facilitated by favorable temperature, availability of
reserved soil moisture of long winter for vegetative growth, but drought problem during
reproductive period creates stressful environment to the crop. When maize planting date is
shifted to late spring; higher temperature stress during major crop period will hinder plant
growth and development. However, there will be plenty of soil moisture during reproductive
stage due to monsoon rainfall which also could not be favorable to Maize. Farmers who
plant maize early are concerned about frost, poor emergence and early plant growth while on
other hand farmers who plant maize late are concerned about that how late planting might
affect the final grain yield and grain moisture (lauer, Carter, Wood, Wiersma, Rand, &
Mlynarek, 1999) . Sowing is delayed then the plant doesn’t get the proper conditions for its
growth so it results in low productivity or complete failure of the germination. Grain yield of
maize decreases with the delay of sowing (Obi, 1988)

Planting dates of Maize for different agro-ecological zone of Nepal has been recommended
as follows (Sharma, 1984)

Summer/Spring Maize

Mid and High hills: March-April (summer maize)

Mid hills: February (spring maize)

Terai and Inner terai: April-May (Summer Maize)

Inner Terai: February-March (spring maize)

Winter maize

Terai: September-October (winter maize)

Inner terai: September (winter maize)

2.3 Effect of sowing time on:

2.3.1 Plant heights and ear height:

Sowing date significantly affected both plant and ear heights. Plant height is strongly related
to genetic characteristics of the plant, and, besides, is influenced by meteorological
conditions during plant growth and development. On average, the tallest maize plants were
observed when maize was sown on the latest sowing date (25 May), but slightly taller plants
–when sown on 5 May (Abdel, Lazim, & Nour, 2001). Maize plant height was affected by the
sowing date, but in their trials taller plants were obtained in the plots sown both on the
earliest and latest sowing date. (Abdel, Lazim, & Nour, 2001).

2.3.2. Number of leaves

Leaf number of maize is determined by the number of leaf initials in the seed and rate and
duration of leaf initiation, which marks the time of transition from vegetative to reproductive
development, all leaf primordial have been ,formed (Tollenaar & Hunter, A photoperiod and
Temperature sensitive period for leaf number of Maize, 1983).Leaf number per plant is
important factor in the estimation of canopy photosynthesis in crop growth simulation
models that compute dry matter accumulation. (Sangoi, Gracietti, Rampazzo, & Bianchetti,
2002)

2.3.4 Crop growth and Yield

The yield of the crop is a function of a number of factors and processes such as light
intercepted by the canopy, metabolic efficiency of plants, translocation efficiency of
photosynthetes from leaves to economic parts and sink capacity. (Doku, 1977) and the
genetic makeup of the crops. In a 2-year field study that was conducted in department of
Agronomy, Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar, India all the maize cultivars tried
(Partap-1, Ageti-76, Ganga -5 and DHM-103) produced similar length of ears and equivalent
grain yields. The yield attributes and grain yields of maize sown on 19December,
29December and8 January were identical and were superior to those of the 19January
sowing. Maize sown on 19December, 29 December and 8January exhibited longer ears, more
ears and fully developed kernels and thereby produced greater grain yield than 18 January
sowing.
3 Expected outputs
 The sowing date of pop corn variety identified.
 The farmers will adopt pop corn variety and start growing

4 Materials and Methods

4.1. Site selection.
The experiment will be conducted at Lamahi 8, Satbariya in Dang District in Rapti zone of
South western Nepal.

4.2. Weather condition

Climate in the Dang valley is tropical to sub-tropical, characterized by monsoon rainfalls

from June to September, which on average account for 85% of the total
annual rainfall (Uprety and Karanjac 1989).

4.3. Experimental design

The experiment will be conducted in Randomised Completely Block Design (RCBD) which
is actually designed for homogeneous field condition as present in our field. 4 replications of
each treatment will be done.

4.4. Treatment details

Lumle Seto and Lumle Pahelo variety of popcorn will be sown in 3 different sowing dates
with a total of 6 different treatments. Sowing will be done as per date given in table.

S.N. Treatment Date of sowing

1 T1( S1V1 (D1= Magh 18, 2075)

)
2 T2 (D1=31 Magh 18, 2075)
(S1V2)
3 T3 (D2= Magh 29. 2075)
(S2V1)
4 T4 (D2= Magh 29. 2075)
(S2V2)
5 T5 (D3= Falgung 11, 2075)
 (S3V1)
6 T6(S3V2) (D3= Falgung 11, 2075)
D=Date of sowing.

S= Sowing date

V= Variety
Field layout plan
Replication 1 Replication 2 Replication 3 Replication 4
T1 T2 T3 T4
T5 T3 T4 T6
T3 T5 T1 T2
T2 T6 T5 T1
T4 T1 T6 T5
T6 T4 T2 T3

Fig: Schematic representation of field layout plan

Each treatment consists of 48 plants each with spacing of R-R 60 cm

and P-P 25 cm

Each plot size= 3.6 * 2 m2

One hill= 2 seeds

Sample plants= 5

Plot to plot spacing= 50 cm

Total plot area= 26.1 * 9.5 m2

Variety
1) Lumle Seto
2) Lumle Pahelo

4.6.2. General recommended dose

 The recommended dose of 60 kg P2O5/ha and 40 kg K2O/ha will be applied as basal in
all plots at the time of seed sowing
 The recommended dose of FYM @ 10 ton/ ha (or poultry manure 5 ton/ha) will be
applied 15 days before sowing of seeds.

4.6.3. Fertilizer time application

The recommended doze of NPK-120:60:40 gm NPK per hectare
  Half dose of nitrogen will applied as basal dose .
 1/4th dose will be applied during knee height stage
 Remaining 1/4th will be applied at tasseling stage
 Full dose of Phosphorus and Potassium will be applied as basal dose.

4.6.4 Irrigation schedule

While irrigating field, ridges will be made around each plot. So, chances of nutrient mixing
among different treatment will be minimised.

 First irrigation will be given at knee high stage

 Second irrigation will be given at tasseling stage

4.6.5 Weeding and earthing up

 First weeding will be done at 30 days after sowing(DAS)
 Second weeding will be done at 50 days after sowing (DAS). Earthing up will be done
after completion of second weeding.

5. Observation and Measurement:

5.1. Weather data during the crop season
For it, digital maximum minimum thermometer cum relative humidity recorder will be used
and the following weather parameter will be recorded on daily basis and average will be
calculated.

5.1.1 Monthly average maximum temperature

5.1.2. Monthly average minimum temperature

5.1.3. Monthly average relative humidity

5.2. Phenological data:

Ten plants will be tagged for taking Phenological observations. The phenological
observations will be recorded as;

Emergence:
Seed emergence will be recorded when about 50% of the seedling will have emerged out of
the soil.

Plant population/m2:
The plant population/m2 will be counted about 20 days after sowing.
Days of tasseling:
The date of tasseling will be recorded from tassel emergence to 50% and up to 100% of plant
will have tasseled in each plot. The mid 2 rows will be taken for each phenological
observation.

Days of silking:
The date will be recorded from the initiation of silk to 50% and up to 100% silking in each
plot. The silk exposed 1cm from closed ear will be considered as emerged silk. The same
rows as that of tasseling records will be taken for days of silking.

Days of physiological maturity:

The appearance of black layer between ear surface and ear grains and occurrence of
senescence of ear husks will be considered as an indication to physiological maturity.

5.3. Biometric observation

Number of Leaf/ plant

Number of leaf per plant will be counted from 6 randomly selected plants from each plot.
They will be counted at an interval of 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 DAS. Finally, average data will
be taken. Also, the number of stem borer and leaf hopper will be counted per plot.

Plant height:
Five plants will be randomly selected and tagged in sampling rows of each plot. The plant
height will be recorded at 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days after sowing. It will be measured from
ground surface to the ligules of uppermost leaves.

5.4. Yield attributing characters

Ear height (cm)

Height from ground level up to the base of the upper most ear bearing internodes will be
recorded as ear height in centimeters. Six representative plants will be taken from each plot.

Ear length (cm)

Length of the ear will be measured and recorded in centimeters at the time of harvest as its
total length (from the base to the tip of the ear). Six representative cobs will be taken from
each plot.
Ear girth (cm)
Ear girth will be measured and recorded in centimeters as the thickness of the ear i.e., at the
middle of the ear. It will be calculated by following formula:
circumference of ear (cm)
Diameter of ear =
3 . 14

Number of kernel rows per ear

Number of kernel rows per ear will be counted and recorded.

Number of kernels per row

Number of kernels per row will be counted and average will be recorded as number of
kernels per row.

Thousand grain weight (g)

The weight of sun dried 1000-grain samples drawn at randomly in each plot will be recorded
in grams at 15 percent moisture content.
5.5 Shelling percentage:
It is the ratio of grain to ear (grain: ear) and expressed in percentage. Six randomly selected
ears will be weighed with grains. All grains will be shelled out and the weight of grain will be
taken and the shelling percentage will calculated as:

Grain yield (kg )

Shelling percentage = ×100
Cob yield (kg )

5.6. Grain yield:

Grain yield will be calculated on hectare basis by using following formulae:

FEW× SP ×( 100 - GMC)

Grain yield (Kg ha -1 )=
NHA ×85×10

Where,

FEW = filled ears weight (Kg) SP = shelling percentage (%)

GMC = grain moisture content at harvest (%) NHA = net harvested area (m2)

6. Statistical Analysis
All the recorded data will be arranged systematically treatment-wise under four replications
on the basis of various observed parameters. Different statistical tools as MSTAT, EXCEL,
and DMRT will be used for the analysis of variance and other data analysis.

Source of Degree of Sum of Mean sum of Computed Tabulated F

variation freedom (df) square square F @1% @5%
Replication (r-1) RSS RMS=RSS/(r-1) RMS/EMS
Treatment (t-1) TSS TMS=TSS/(T-1) TMS/EMS
Error (r-1)(t-1) ESS EMS=ESS/(E-1)
Total (rt-1)
Source: Gomez and Gomez (1984

7. Data interpretation and report writing

Based on the figures of analyzed data, the results will be interpreted in a logical manner to
produce the final report.

8. Beneficiaries
 Primary beneficiary will be maize growers.
 Secondary beneficiary will be the researchers, students and organizations working in
this area.
 Tertiary beneficiary will be maize consumer and businessman.

9. Risk and Assumptions

 Crop season will be suitable for maize, unfavourable weather, occurrence of
disease and pests will not influence the success of field trail
 Basic inputs will be available as per time, quality and quantity
 Farmer will cooperate with researcher
10. Gantt chart
S.N. Activities Poush Magh Falgun Chaitra Baisakh Jestha
1 Materials collection
2 Field preparation and layout
3 Sowing
4 Plant management
5 Biometric observation
 6 Phenological observation
7 Yield and yield attributing
observation
8 Harvesting
9 Data Analysis
10 Report writing and discussion
11 Final Presentation

11.Scope and limitation of the study

After completion of the research appropriate time for sowing popcorn maize in spring
condition in Dang district would be known that would benefit farmers to gain greater
productivity.
The study is limited due to time and budgetary constraints. The findings may not
represent the large area due to the lack of time to conduct research.

12.Budget Summary
Table: Budget summary for conducting research
S.N Particulars Expenditure (Rs)
1 Communication and literature review 500
2 Field layout 500
3 Land preparation 2000
4 FYM 1000
5 Fertilizers 1000
Urea
DAP
MOP
6 Intercultural operations 3000
7 Field assistant for data collection 1000
8 Travelling 2000
9 Equipment 3000
10 Stationary, photocopy and publication 5000
S11 Miscellaneous cost 500
Grand total 19,500

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