Effect of time of fertilizer application on growth and yield of maize (<i>Zea mays </i>L.) in Jos - plateau environment

Abstract

An experiment was carried out during the 2006 growing season, between June and November, to investigate the growth and yield responses of four varieties of maize (SUWAN-1-Y, TZSR-Y, DMESR-W and ACROSS-97 TZL) to time of fertilizer application (2,4 and 6 weeks after planting). The experiment was laid out in a 3 x 4 factorial in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The results indicated that the mean number of leaves per plant, leaf area index (LAI), plant height, mean number of rows per ear, ear weight, shelling %, kernel weight and total grain yield significantly (P<0.05) increased when fertilizer was applied at two weeks after planting. The mean number of days to 50% tasseling and 50% silking decreased when fertilizer was applied at six weeks after planting. The mean number of barren plants increased with delay in fertilizer application at six weeks after planting. The interactions of variety and time of fertilizer application on the number of rows per ear, mean ear weight, kernel weight and shelling % were significant. The study revealed that the yield of maize could be enhanced by the early application of fertilizer at two weeks after planting. These results are discussed in the light of time of fertilizer application on growth and yield attributes of maize.

Effect of Next Generation Fertilizers on Growth and Yield Potential of Maize (Zea mays L.)

“…Though the effect of varieties on number of cobs was statistically insignificant but maximum numbers of cobs were found in the treatment V 3 (1.34) and minimum number of cobs (1.17) found in the variety V 2 (Table 2). This result is in agreement with the Here, V 1 = BARI Hybrid Bhutta-5, V 2 = BARI Hybrid Bhutta-6, V 3 = BARI Hybrid Bhutta-9 findings of Idris et al (2016), Amali and Namo (2015) and many other scientists. They also found variation in number of cobs per plant due to the variation in genetic makeup of the varieties of maize.…”

“…The highest mean number of cobs (1.27) was obtained in the treatment T 3 having Bio-forge along with other recommended fertilizers and also observed in T 5 having Peak along with other recommended fertilizers. Similar findings also agreed by the research work of Rogaciano and Rosill (2015), Amali and Namo (2015), Yihenew (2015) and other researchers of the home and abroad. Though the effect of varieties on number of cobs was statistically insignificant but maximum numbers of cobs were found in the treatment V 3 (1.34) and minimum number of cobs (1.17) found in the variety V 2 (Table 2).…”

Sole and Combined Application of Biodigestate, N, P, and K Fertilizers: Impacts on Soil Chemical Properties and Maize Performance

“…The enhanced growth and yield of maize observed after the application of N, P, and K fertilizers can be attributed to the deficiency of vital nutrients in the soil at the experimental site, crucial for the growth and yield of maize. Ogunboye et al [ 18 ] and Amali and Namo [ 53 ] reported an increase in maize yield due to urea fertilizer. Ahmad et al [ 54 ] and Ademba et al [ 55 ] reported an increase in maize yield due to phosphate fertilizer.…”

Comparative Effects of Site-specific and Blanket Fertilizer Application on Soil Physicochemical properties and Maize (Zea mays L.) Yield at Mikalango in Chikwawa District, Southern Malawi

“…Since the 1990s, Malawi has maintained very low standard fertilizer application rates for maize which are either 69 kg or 92 kg of nitrogen fertilizer per hectare following the blanket recommendation. According to Amali and Namo (2014), for hybrid maize, 400 kg per hectare of NPK is recommended to be applied just before planting, which should be followed up four weeks after planting with 250 kg of CAN per hectare as side dressing. Such a rate can be achieved through site-specific fertilizer application following a soil test report to ensure fertilizer use efficiency.…”