Maize growth monitoring

Our main activity was to measure growth parameters:plant height, plant girth, leaf area index, number of old leaf and number of young leaf.

We started to work by selecting randomly three plants from each plot and measuring appropriate growth parameters.

Ⅰ. Plant height—was measured using tape measure by fixing the tape at the ground surface and extending it to the tip of the maize plant. Appropriate height was recorded in the notebook.

Ⅱ. Plant girth—was measured using the tape measure by surrounding it around the bottom of the maize plant and girth was recorded in the notebook.

Ⅲ. Leaf area index（LAI）—was recorded by measuring the length and width of the first three leaves from the bottom by using a tape measure and recorded in the notebook.

Ⅳ. Numbers of leaf（old and young leaf）—were physically counted and recorded in the notebook.

Among the total of 54 plots of the experiment we managed to visit 27 plots, and returned to the research station.

These parameters will be used to assess how tillage, straws and nitrogen can affect the maize plant growth.