Growth and yield response of maize (Zea mays var. saccharata) to different nitrogen fertilization sources and rates

Abstract

Nitrogen is an essential plant nutrient and a major yield-determining factor, required for normal vegetative growth and grain development of maize. Applying nitrogen requires appropriate fertilization management to achieve efficient nutrient utilization. A field experiment was carried out on Fluvisol to evaluate the yield and growth parameters response of maize (Zea mays var. saccharate) to incremental rates of N fertilizer (100, 150, 200 kg N/ha) from two different fertilization sources – ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) and urea (CH4N2O). Highest yield was measured in plants subjected to N200 (9.76 t/ha) fertilization rate with NH4NO3. A high linear correlation was observed between yield and nitrogen fertilization rate regardless of the nitrogen source. The effect of different nitrogen rates was significant on leaf number and mass, ears mass, internodes number and mass per plant. The results revealed that the nitrogen source significantly affected the number of leaves per plant and the leaves mass. The individual effects of fertilization rate and source on yield were not statistically significant in isolation. However, when considered together, they exhibited a significant effect at the 95% confidence level.

Keywords

• zea mays
• urea
• ammonium nitrate
• yield