Effect of Date of Sowing and Cultivar on Growth, Biological Output and Soil Densities of Summer Maize (Zea mays L.) under Western Uttar Pradesh, India
Aims: To evaluate the effects of different dates of sowing and maize cultivars on growth, biological output and soil density of summer maize under the agro-climatic conditions of western Uttar Pradesh, and to identify a suitable sowing date–cultivar for improved crop performance. Study Design: A two-year field experiment was conducted using a split-plot design with three replications, comprising four dates of sowing and four maize cultivars. Place and Duration of Study: Agronomic Research Farm, R.S.M. (P.G.) College, Dhampur, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, India, during the summer seasons of 2024-25 and 2025-26. Methodology: Four dates of sowing, SD₁ (01 March), SD₂ (11 March), SD₃ (21 March) and SD₄ (31 March), were assigned to the main plots, while four cultivars, V₁ (JH-3459), V₂ (Pusa Early Hybrid Makka-2), V₃ (Malviya Hybrid Makka-2) and V₄ (Deccan-115), were allocated to the sub-plots. Growth parameters, crop growth rate, biological yield, soil bulk density and particle density were recorded. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, and treatment means were compared using the Critical Difference at the 5% probability level. Results: Sowing date significantly influenced crop growth rate in both years. SD₁ recorded the highest crop growth rate of 48.8 and 48.3 g m⁻² day⁻¹ in 2025 and 2026, respectively. Plant height reached 255.6 cm under SD₁ in 2026. Biological yield was significantly affected by sowing date in 2025, with SD₁ recording 14,799.4 kg ha⁻¹, while the effect was non-significant in 2026. Among cultivars, V₄ recorded the highest biological yield of 14,184.0 and 15,143.3 kg ha⁻¹ in 2025 and 2026, respectively. Bulk density was significantly affected by sowing date in 2025, with the lowest value of 1.11 g cm⁻³ under SD₂, whereas particle density remained non-significant across treatments. Conclusion: Early sowing on 01 March (SD₁) and cultivar Deccan-115 (V₄) showed superior overall performance and were recommended for improving the growth and biological productivity of summer maize under the prevailing conditions of western Uttar Pradesh.