Mulching Effects and Nitrogen Application on the Performance of <i>Zea mays</i> L: Crop Growth and Nutrient Accumulation

Abstract

Abstract.Maize is an agronomic cereal species that is sensitive to nutrient applications, especially nitrogen. Field experiments were conducted in 2011 and 2012 to evaluate the effect of nitrogen and mulching using dried weeds on maize growth and nutrient accumulation. The study was located in the Research Farm of the Agricultural Science Education Unit of the Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria ((latitude 5 0 46'N and longitude 6 0 5'E). The experiment consist of eight (8) recorded the highest in all the treatments. It can be concluded based on the results in this study, that legume based weeds as mulch can be supplemented with nitrogen to improve maize growth.

Nondestructive diagnostics of soluble sugar, total nitrogen and their ratio of tomato leaves in greenhouse by polarized spectra–hyperspectral data fusion

“…N is the main component of proteins, chlorophyll and nucleic acids, and is thus known as "the element of crop life" [3] . Different nutrient physiologic conditions, especially N, have different effects on the growth rate of plants [4] , dry matter distribution [5] , nutrient uptake state [6] , soil physical and chemical properties [7] , photosynthesis [8] , and carbon and nitrogen metabolism [2] . Among these, the carbon-nitrogen ratio (C/N) reflects the physiological status and growth vigor of the plant [9] .…”