"Impact of some Micro-Nutrients Foliar Application on Two Maize Hybrids Productivity"

Two field experiments were carried out during two summer seasons of 2018 and 2019 at the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Assiut, to study the response of two maize hybrids [Single Cross (S.C.) 10 (H1) and Trible Cross (T.C.) 321 (H2)] on yield and its components of three micro-nutrients (M1= B, M2= Zn and M3= Mn) and three foliar spray levels= control (water only), S1= (25 ppm B, 50 ppm Zn and 34 ppm Mn) and S2= (50 ppm B, 100 ppm Zn and 68 ppm Mn). Experimental design was randomized complete block design (RCBD) using split-plot in strips, where nutrients allocated in the main vertically, foliar spray levels were arranged in the main horizontally and maize hybrids were occupied the sub-plots. According to research results, the maximum values for plant height in two seasons, 100 grain weight and grain yield/fed. in the 2 season were obtained by Zn treatment, as well as the maximum ones for grain yield/fed. and its components were achieved by B treatment in the 1 season. The highest values of plant height, ear length, ear diameter, grains weight/ear, 100 grain weight and grain yield/fed. were recorded by foliar (25, 50 and 34 ppm B, Zn and Mn, respectively) in the 1 season only. The hybrid S.C. 10 gave the highest values for plant height and ear length in both seasons, grain weight/ear and grain yield/fed. in the 1 season, while the hybrid T.C. 321 surpassed for 100 grain weight in both seasons, ear diameter, grains weight/ear and grain yield/fed. in the 2 season. The first order interaction H1xM2 (hybrid S.C. 10 x Zn) achieved the maximum values for ear length in both seasons, plant height and grain yield/fed. (18.8 ard.) in the 1 season, as well as H2xM3 interaction (hybrid T.C. 321 x Mn) achieved the maximum ones for grain weight/ear, 100 grain weight and grain yield/fed. (20.2 ard.) in the 2 season. The H1xS1 interaction (hybrid S.C. 10 x foliar 25, 50 and 34 ppm B, Zn and Mn) and H2xS2 interaction (hybrid T.C. 321 x foliar 50, 100 and 68 ppm B, Zn and Mn) gave the maximum values for grains weight/ear and grain yield/fed. (19.7 and 22.5 ard.) in the 1 and 2 seasons, respectively. The M1xS1 interaction (B x foliar 25 ppm B) showed the highest values for grains weight and grain yield/fed. in the 1 season, while M3xS2 interaction (Mn x foliar 68 Mn) showed the highest ones for ear diameter and grain yield/fed. in the 2 season. The second order interactions H1xM2xS1 (hybrid S.C. 10 x Zn x foliar 50 ppm Zn) and H2xM3xS2 (hybrid T.C. 321 x Mn x foliar 68 ppm Mn) gave the highest values for grains weight/ear and grains yield/fed. (21.1 and 29.1 ard.) in the 1 and 2 seasons, respectively.