Intensity of defoliation effect on yield and yield components of maize | |
| Author | Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AS-04-07 |
| Subject(s) | Crop yields Corn--Yields |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AS-04-07 |
| Abstract | Maize is a crop of need, especially in the developing countries, including Vietnam. It is grown as a rainfed crop and hence subject to waters stresses towards the latter part of crop growth, particularly the period after silking, which eventually affect the foliage which is a major factor required for the productivity. This study was therefore conducted to evaluate the effect of leaf loss in terms of different degree of defoliation on grain yield and yield component of maize. Defoliation was imposed at silking. Eight leaf removal treatments were instituted, and a control was included. The experiment was designed in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The dry weight, length, girth of maize ear and cob length were highest and significantly great in the control treatment than the defoliated plants. Cob girth showed no difference among treatment. The lowest values were from the plants with highest degree of defoliation. Control plants had the highest grain number per cob (438) and grain yield (5.0 t/ha), but the highest grain weight were produced by plants that had foliage intact above the cob (24.6 g), only ear leaf was left intact (25.4 g), ear leaf and one leaf above left intact (25 g) leaves and stem above ear node were removed (25.2 g). Defoliation also increased the harvest index of maize. However, the plants of which all the leaves were excised, grains per ear, 100 grain weight, grain yield and harvest index decreased. |
| Year | 2004 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AS-04-07 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Aquatic Systems (AS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Ranamuakhaarachchi, S.L.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Zoebisch, Michael A.;Rakshit, Sudip K.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | MOET, Vietnam Hanoi Agricultural University, Vietnam; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2004 |