Section 3 (Crop Management)

Shakya et al.
Materials and Methods
The experiment was conducted under maize/millet relay system at Hill Crops Research Program,
Kabre, Dolakha. The location is situated at 27 0 8 " N and 86 0 3 " E. The altitude is 1740 masl. The soil of the
trial plot was slight acidic having pH 5.5. The texture was sandy loam with lower level of organic matter
(OM) and total nitrogen (N), level of phosphorus (P2O5) and potash (K2O) were found to be low, medium
and high respectively. The experimental plot size was 6.0 m 2 (i.e. 4 rows of 2 meter long). Thirty-five
days old fingermillet seedlings were transplanted in each plot when maize was at silking stage. Rampur
composite and Kabre kodo-1 were the maize and millet variety respectively used in this study. Net
harvest area was 3.0 m 2 in maize and 6.0 m 2 in finger millet. As usual farmers production practices,
10t/ha compost was incorporated in the soil uniformly throughout the experimental field. Besides
compost, commercial fertilizer was applied @ 60:30:30 N:P2O5:K2 O kg/ha. The sources of fertilizer were
di-ammonium phosphate (18%N and 46% P2O5 ), Urea (46% N), Triple super phosphate (48% P2O5) and
Murate of potash (60% K2O). All phosphorus and potash was applied at the time of maize planting.
Nitrogen application was split as per treatment given below. The experiment was conducted in a
randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications and the yield and other yield
components data were analyzed using MSTATC statistical package for treatments comparison. Rainfall
and temperature data were recorded during the time of experiment given in Figure 1.
Details of the treatment
T1 100% basal
T2 50% basal + 50% at knee high stage
T3 33% basal + 33% knee high stage + 34% tasseling stage
T4 50% knee high stage + 50% tasseling stage
T5 50% knee high stage + 50% millet transplanting stage.
T6 33% knee high stage + 33% tasseling stage +34% millet transplanting stage.
T7 33% knee high stage+33% millet transplanting stag +34% 40 days after millet transplanting.
T8 100% at knee high stage (Farmers usual practice)
Maize and millet planting and harvesting time
First year (2000)
Maize sowing date: 17 April, 2000
Maize harvesting date: 23 August, 2000
Millet transplanting date: 5 July, 2000
Millet harvesting date: 9 November, 2000
Competition period between maize and millet = 50 days
Second year (2001)
Maize sowing date: 19 April, 2001
Maize harvesting date: 27 August, 2001
Millet transplanting date: 5 July, 2001
Millet harvesting date: 12 November, 2001
Competition period between maize and millet = 53 days
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