Response of maize varieties under variable planting geometry in Kandahar semi-arid situation

A field experiment was conducted during spring season, 2015 at Tarnak Research Farm of Afghanistan National Agricultural Sciences and Technology University (ANASTU), Kandahar, Afghanistan with semi-arid climate to found out the response of yield, economics and energy relation of maize varieties under varying planting geometry. The experiment was conducted in FRBD and replicated thrice. The treatment details include: two maize hybrids CS-200 and AB-01 and four planting geometry [P1 (75 × 33.3cm) with plant population of 40,000 plantsha, P2 (75 × 22.2cm) with plant population of 60,000 plantsha, P3 (75 × 16.7cm) with plant population of 80,000 plantsha and P4 (75 × 13.3cm) with plant population of 100,000 plantsha]. Results showed that maize hybrid CS-200 performed significantly superior in terms of grain yield (6.41 t ha-) and harvest index (37.6%) compared to AB01 (5.81 tha and 33.4%, respectively). Both of maize hybrids (CS-200 and AB-01) did not differ significantly with respect to gross return, net return. B: C ratio, energy output and energy use efficiency due to their significant variation in producing grain and stover yields. Among the varying planting geometry, the wider planting geometry recorded significantly better performance for all yields attributes. Planting geometry P2 recorded significantly greater performance in terms of yields attributes. Therefore, hybrid CS-200 and planting geometry P2 is recommended for obtaining higher yield of maize, which can assure a net income of 221,371Afnha to the farmers of Kandahar semi-arid situation.