On-farm evaluation of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) in different ecology of Nepal

Accepted: 30 Sep. 2020 The increasing demand for maize in Nepal can only be met by growing high yielding hybrids. The best selection of appropriate genotypes for given ecology can contribute to boosting up the total production. To identify suitable hybrids for the mid-hills and Terai region, series of coordinated farmers' field trials and demonstrations were carried out at respective eco-zones of Nepal for three consecutive years from 2016/17 to 2018/19. Six to eight promising single cross hybrids developed by the National Maize Research Program were evaluated with P3533, Rajkumar, and CP808 as commercial checks. The experiments were laid out in randomized complete block design. Pakhribas, Kabre, Khumaltar, Lumle, Salyan, Surkhet, and Dailekh represented the mid-hill and Maharanijhoda, Tarahara, Belachapi, Sagarnath, Dumarwana, Parawanipur, Rampur, and Nepalgunj represented the Terai and inner Terai. CP808 and CAH1715 produced a higher grain yield of 8122 and 7566 kg ha at mid-hills and Terai, respectively under coordinated farmers' field trials. RML-86/RML-96 out-yielded with a grain yield of 7319 kg ha in the demonstration at Terai in 2018/19. Based on two to three years' yield data across different eco-zones of Nepal, it was concluded that the Nepali hybrids mainly RML-95/RML-96, RML-86/RML-96, and Rampur Hybrid-6 can produce an average yield more than 6700 kg ha. Experimental results showed that RML-95/RML96 and RML-86/RML-96 were most stable for grain yield in the mid-hill while in Terai and inner Terai, P3396 and Rampur Hybrid-10 showed good stability. These results indicate the expanding scope of such hybrids across the respective eco-zones.