Yield, profitability and agronomic efficiency of nitrogen in rainfed maize with complementary foliar fertilization of Zn and Mo

Abstract

The research aimed to evaluate the effect of complementary foliar applications of Zn and Mo on the yield, profitability, and agronomic efficiency of nitrogen in rainfed maize. The work was carried out during the rainy seasons of 2020 and 2021 in the Carrizal river valley, Manabí, Ecuador. The treatments evaluated were: NPK soil fertilization supplemented with foliar application of Zn and Mo (T1) and NPK soil fertilization without foliar application of Zn and Mo (T2). Grain yield (RG), agronomic efficiency of N (EAN), and the net economic benefit of fertilization (BEN) were recorded. Data were analyzed with Student's t-test for paired observations. Treatment T1 increased the RG by 15.58% and 14.03% during 2020 and 2021, respectively, concerning treatment T2. Similarly, the T1 treatment increased the EAN by 28.30% and 24.60% in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, respectively, concerning the T2 treatment. Finally, treatment T1 produced the highest BEN, with an increase of 23.05% and 16.37%, during 2020 and 2021, respectively, about treatment T2. Complementary foliar fertilization with Zn and Mo enhanced the effect of NPK soil fertilization and increased yield, profitability, and EAN in rainfed maize.