Examination of the Productivity and Physiological Responses of Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) to Nitrapyrin and Foliar Fertilizer Treatments
Dalma Rácz,
Lóránt Szőke,
Brigitta Tóth,
Béla Kovács,
Éva Horváth,
Péter Zagyi,
László Duzs,
Adrienn Széles
Affiliations
Dalma Rácz
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Land Use, Engineering and Precision Farming Technology, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi St., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Lóránt Szőke
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Food Science, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi St., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Brigitta Tóth
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Food Science, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi St., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Béla Kovács
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Food Science, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi St., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Éva Horváth
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Land Use, Engineering and Precision Farming Technology, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi St., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Péter Zagyi
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Land Use, Engineering and Precision Farming Technology, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi St., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
László Duzs
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Land Use, Engineering and Precision Farming Technology, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi St., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Adrienn Széles
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Land Use, Engineering and Precision Farming Technology, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi St., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Nutrient stress has been known as the main limiting factor for maize growth and yield. Nitrapyrin, as a nitrification inhibitor—which reduces nitrogen loss—and foliar fertilizer treatments have been successfully used to enhance the efficiency of nutrient utilization, however, the impacts of these two technologies on physiological development, enzymatic responses, and productivity of maize are poorly studied. In this paper, the concentration of each stress indicator, such as contents of proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), relative chlorophyll, photosynthetic pigments, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in maize leaf tissues. In addition, biomass growth, as well as quantitative and qualitative parameters of yield production were examined. Results confirm the enhancing impact of nitrapyrin on the nitrogen use of maize. Furthermore, lower activity of proline, MDA, SOD, as well as higher photosynthetic activity were shown in maize with a more favorable nutrient supply due to nitrapyrin and foliar fertilizer treatments. The obtained findings draw attention to the future practical relevance of these technologies that can be implemented to enhance the physiological development and productivity of maize. However, this paper also highlights the importance of irrigation, as nutrient uptake from soil by the crops decreases during periods of drought.
