Effect of Time and Length of Detopping on Grain and Fodder Yield of Maize in Telangana

A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Karimnagar for two consecutive years i.e.Rabi 2013-14 & 2014-15in RBD in two sub-experiments to find out the effect of de-topping on maize grain yield in red sandy loam soils. The initial soil status indicated of high available N, P, and K (613.9, 62.8, 436 kg/ha respectively). The first sub-experiment was conducted with 7 treatments (Stages of De-topping i.e T1 – 14 Days after tasseling (DAT), T2 – 19 DAT, T3 – 24 DAT, T4 – 29 DAT, T5 – 34 DA7, T6 – 40 DAT & Control -Without De-topping) and with 6 treatments in second sub-experiment (Length of De-topping i.e T1 – The fifth node above the cob, T2 – The fourth node above the cob, T3 – The third node above the cob, T4 – The second node above the cob, T5- One node above the cob & T6- Control (Without De-topping). Significantly higher grain yield was recorded with control (no stopping) and it was on par with detopping (by leaving five leaves above the cob) at 40 days after tasseling and an additional green fodder yield of 1.96 t/ha is obtained. Detopping by leaving two, three, and four leaves above the cob placement resulted in 22, 18 & 17% yield loss respectively as compared to the control.