Effect of Variety and Practice of Cultivation on Yield of Spring Maize in Terai of Nepal

A field experiment was conducted in farmer’s field of MainaPokhar and Deudakala Village Development Committee in Bardiya District of Nepal. The objective of study was to identify the appropriate combination of variety and cultivation practice of maize in spring season. Two maize varieties Rajkumar (hybrid) and Arun2 (Open Pollinated Variety-OPV) were sown at the field of 6 different farmer’s field. The experimental plot design was Randomized Complete Block Design with 6 replication and 4 treatments considering each farmer as a replication. There were 4 treatment combinations consisting two varieties and two practice of cultivations namely P1V1 (improved practice + Rajkumar), P1V2 (Improved practice+Arun2), P2V1 (Farmers practice + Rajkumar) and P2V2 (Farmers practice + Arun2). Result showed a significant (P<0.01) differences among varieties. But no significant difference was found in yield by the interaction of variety and practice. The statistically analyzed results revealed that the effect of cultivation practice and their interaction effect on grain yield were found non-significant but the response of the variety were found highly significant difference on grain yield, where the Rajkumar variety produced the highest average grain yield of 5.13 t/ha. It indicated that Rajkumar variety performs better than Arun2 in both improved and farmers practice of cultivation. Maximum grain yield ranging from (3.17 to 7.25 t/ha) and (1.60 to 6.32 t/ha) was produced by Rajkumar in improved practice and farmers practice of cultivation respectively while minimum grain yield was found in Arun2 ranging from (0.95 to 4.43 t/ha) and (0.81 to 4.09 t/ha) in improved practice and farmers practice of cultivation respectively. P1V1 scored the highest score followed by P2V1, P1V2 and P2V2 in farmers’ preference ranking. Rajkumar variety cultivated with improved practice was found giving the best yield along with highest net return and Benefit Cost ratio of Rs. 30047.7 and 1.41 respectively.