Economic analysis of maize hybrid influenced by tillage method and planting density

The experiment was laid out in a strip-split plot design consisting of 16 treatments with three replications, at NMRP, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal, during the winter season (October, 2015 to March, 2016). Four different levels of planting geometry (60 cm×30 cm, 60 cm×24 cm, 60 cm×19.5 cm, and 60 cm×16.5 cm, representing 55,555, 69,444, 85,470 and 1,01,010 plants ha-1, respectively), two hybrid varieties of maize (Rampur hybrid 4 and Rampur hybrid 6), and two tillage methods (conventional and zero tillage), were used for the treatments. Economic analysis revealed that significantly higher net benefit (NRs. 1,06,692 ha-1) was obtained with 85 rather than 55 thousand plants ha-1 (NRs. 79,249 ha-1), but remained at par with 69 (NRs. 92,656 ha-1) and 101 (NRs. 96,198 ha-1) thousand plants ha-1. Moreover, the B:C ratio was higher in 85 (2.57) than 55 (2.28), 69 (2.43), and 101 (2.35) thousand plants ha-1. The net returns and B:C ratio (NRs. 97,372 and 2.46) obtained from Rampur hybrid 6 were also higher, but statistically at par with Rampur hybrid 4 (NRs. 90,024 and 2.35), respectively. In addition, net returns and B:C ratio obtained from zero tillage (NRs. 1,03,473 and 2.6) were better than conventional tillage (NRs. 83,924 and 2.22). Thus, both hybrid maize varieties (Rampur hybrid 4 and Rampur hybrid 6) can be successfully grown under a zero tillage system with an optimum plant population of 85 thousand plants ha-1 to achieve a higher grain yield and better winter season net returns in western Chitwan, Rampur, Nepal.