Effect of gibberllic acid on growth, yield and economics of maize (Zea mays L.) under Jhabua hills of Madhya Pradesh

The aim of present investigation was to study the effect of foliar application of gibberellic acid (Progibb 40% WSG) spraying at 4-5 leaves stage of the maize crop. Two field experiments were conducted during kharif2014 and rabi2014-15 at Research Farm, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Jhabua. Seven treatments (T=20, T30, T40, T50 T60 gibberellic acid g/ha, Tricontanol 12= 3= 4 = 5= 0.1%= 250 ml/ha and control) were tested in randomized block design with three replications. Results showed that variation in different doses of gibberellic acid had significant effect on growth character (plant height and silking) and yield attributes (no. of cobs/plant, cob length, no. of grains/cob and cob weight/cob); grain yield and stover yield of maize in both the seasons. Higher values of plant height (197.33 and 205.5 cm) and silking (53.67 and 54.67) was recorded with the spraying of gibberellic acid @ 60 g/ha in both the seasons, respectively. Similarly the higher yield attributes viz., no. of cobs/plant (1.48 and 1.49), cob length (17.40 and 17.78 cm), no. of grains/cob (443.33 and 456.67) and cob weight/cob (93.2 and 97.32) were recorded with the application of gibberellic acid @ 50 g/ha in both the seasons, respectively. Application of gibberellic acid @ 50 g/ha produced highest grain yield (3522 and 4277 kg/ha) and stover yield (51.05 and 5413 kg/ha) which was statistically at par with doses of 40 g/ha, 60 g/ha and tricontanol 0.1% @ 250 ml. The maximum gross return (Rs. 56,347 and 65,854), net return (37,722 and 47,229), B: C ratio (3.03 and 3.54), production efficiency (32.49 and 37.19 kg/ha/day) and economic efficiency (339.84 and 410.69 Rs./ha/day) recorded with gibberellic acid @ 50 g/ha. Enhancing of production, productivity and profitability of maize under Jhabua Hill of Madhya Pradesh gibberellic acid applied @ 50 g/ha at 4-5 leaf stage of crop