Effects of nitrogen supply on defensive changes in maize against biotic stressors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59797/ija.v69i3.5524Keywords:
Corn, Fall armyworm, Maydis Leaf blight, Nitrogen, Plant health, WeedAbstract
The maize yield potential is constrained by a diverse range of biotic and abiotic factors, ultimately leading to di- minished crop yield, and quality. Nitrogen (N)-an indispensable fertilizer element is known to exert an influence on incidence and severity of these biotic stresses. This paper describes the effect of various levels of N application and contrasting maize genotypes on weed infestation, maydis leaf blight (MLB) and fall armyworm (FAW) inci- dence in maize. The field experiment was carried out at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during two consecutive years (2021 and 2022). Treatments comprising 6 maize genotypes (PJHM 1, PC 4, DKC 9167, PMH 13, AH 4271 and Pusa Vivek QPM 9-I) and seven N levels (0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200 and 240 kg N/ha) were arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design. Results showed that genotypes with profuse growth, greater leaf area and higher light interception (PJHM 1, DKC 9167 and PMH 13) had minimum weed inci- dence and may be considered as a key element of integrated weed management in smallholder agriculture. Dis- ease severity in PV QPM 9-I (5.3) was higher than all other genotypes while least in AH 4271 (2.7). The maximum and minimum pest incidence was observed in PJHM 1 (4.9 and 5.6,) and PV QPM 9-I (2.1 and 2.4), respectively. In general, the total (-9.4%) and broad-leaf weed density (-26.4%) reduced with increasing use of nitrogenous fer- tilizers, while the application of lower N rates reduced the prevalence of narrow-leaf weeds (34.2%). The early leaf senescence and poor photosynthetic rate at lower rates of N application decreased the plants immunity against MLB disease. Oppositely, the increased succulency at higher N doses led to severe FAW incidence in maize over control. Therefore, the study demonstrates that planting of competitive/resistant genotypes and use of 160 kg N/ha resulted in relatively less overall burden of biotic stressors on maize crop.
References
Aydogdu, M. and Boyraz, N. 2011. Effects of nitrogen and organic fertilization on corn smut (Ustilago maydis (DC) Corda.). African Journal of Agricultural Research 6 (19): 4539-4543.
Bamboriya, S.D., Dhar, S., Upadhyay, P.K., Dass, A., Meena, R.P. and Garg, K. 2023. Evaluation of maize (Zea mays) genotypes under different nitrogen levels in a Trans-Gangetic Plains region. Indian Journal of Agronomy 68 (4): 368-372.
Chikoye, D., Lum, A.F., Abaidoo, R., Menkir, A., Kamara, A., Ekeleme, F. and Sanginga, N. 2008. Response of corn genotypes to weed interference and nitrogen in Nigeria. Weed Science 56 (3): 424-433.
Choudhary, R.L. and Behera, U.K. 2020. Effect of conservation agriculture and nitrogen management on root architecture and soil properties in maize–wheat cropping system. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 19 (3): 261-270.
Department of Economics and Statistics (DES). 2021. Agriscultural statisticas at a glance.
Ghosh, D., Brahmachari, K., Brestic, M., Ondrisik, P., Hossain, A., Skalicky, M., Sarkar, S., Moulick, D., Dinda, N.K. and Das, A. 2020. Integrated Weed and Nutrient Management Improve Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Economics of Maize in the Rice-Maize Cropping System of Eastern India. Agronomy 10: 1906. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10121906.
Jha, P., Kumar, V., Godara, R. and Chauhan, B. 2017. Weed management using crop competition in the United States: A review. Crop Protection 95: 31-37.
Kumar, B., Choudhary, M., Kumar, K., Kumar, P., Kumar, S., Bagaria, P. K., Sharma, M., Lahkar, C., Singh, B.K., Pradhan, H., Jha, A.K., Kumar, S. and Rakshit, S. 2022. Maydis leaf blight of maize: Update on status, sustainable management and genetic architecture of its resistance. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 121: 101889.
Manjunatha, C., Gogoi, R., Singh, B., Jeevan, B., Rai, S.N. and Singh, P.K. 2019. Phenotypic and physiological characterization of maize inbred lines resistant and susceptible to maydis leaf blight. Indian Phytopathology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42360-019-00117-w
Sharanabasappa, S.D., Kalleshwaraswamy, C.M., Asokan, R., Swamy, H.M.M., Maruthi, M.S. and Pavithra, HB. 2018. First report of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), an alien invasive pest on maize in India. Pest Management in Horticulture Ecosystems 24(1): 23–29.
Wang, W., Wang, X., Liao, H., Feng, Y., Guo, Y., Shu, Y. and Wang, J. 2022. Effects of nitrogen supply on induced defense in maize (Zea mays) against fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23(18): 10457.
War, A.R., Paulraj, M.G., Ahmad, T., Buhroo, A.A., Hussain, B., Ignacimuthu, S. and Sharma, H.C. 2012. Mechanisms of plant defense against insect herbivores. Plant Signalling and Behaviour 7 (10): 1306-20. doi: 10.4161/psb.21663.
