ALLOMETRY AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) HYBRIDS TO VARIOUS POTASSIUM LEVELS UNDER SALINE CONDITIONS

A field experiment was conducted to study the response of two maize hybrids to external K application under saline field conditions (ECe 5.71-8.91 dS m -1 ). The data showed that there was an increase in the different growth and yield components with the increase in the external K. The increase was more pronounced when K was applied at the rate of 175 kg ha -1 with respect to control treatment. The enhanced growth and yield of these hybrids under saline conditions might be due to the response of K application, resulting in reduced Na uptake. The results indicated that the hybrids Pioneer 32B33 perform better than Dekalb 979 and economical yield can be obtained when potassium was applied at the rate of 125 kg ha -1 .