IMPACT OF BIO-ORGANIC FERTILIZATION AND NITROGEN LEVELS ON MAIZE (Zea mays L.) RESILIENCE

Abstract

A field study on maize growth in sandy soils found that applying 5 tons/fad of compost significantly enhanced plant growth and grain yield. Increasing the nitrogen (N) rate up to 135 kg N/fad also, led to a notable increase in plant and grain yield and resulted in early flowering. The application of phosphorus and potassium (PK) at a rate of 15.5 kg P2O5 + 48 kg K2O/fad led to early flowering and significantly increased grain yield. Furthermore, the application of PK fertilizer led to an increase in the nitrogen and phosphorus content of grains in both growing seasons. The concentration of proline, which serves as an endogenous osmoprotectant against biotic stress, also increased. The suggested PK fertilizer level (15.5 kg P2O5 + 48 kg K2O/fad) resulted in a notable rise in the CP% in grains. The research further revealed that the uptake of nitrogen in grains increased in response to higher nitrogen levels, with the maximum nitrogen utilization efficiency being 25.11 kg of grains/ kilogram of applied nitrogen.