Response of Two Maize (Zea mays L.) Varieties to Times of NPK (15-15-15) Fertilizer Application

Abstract

Nitrogen rate and time of application are among the major abiotic factors limiting the productivity of maize. The research was, therefore, carried out to examine the response of two maize varieties (Omankwa and Pioneer hybrid) to four different times of N : P : K 15 : 15 : 15 fertilizer application during the major growing season in Ghana. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with eight treatment combinations with three replications. Our findings showed that the two maize varieties responded to the time of fertilizer application differently. The interactive effect indicated that the application of fertilizer during planting produced the highest grain yield (4.7 tons ha−1) of the Omankwa (open-pollinated variety) while the application of fertilizers two/four weeks after planting increased the grain yield (6.5 tons ha−1) of the hybrid. The growth and yield parameters were not significantly affected by the treatment combinations. In order for farmers to obtain good yield, it is recommended that farmers should apply N : P : K 15 : 15 : 15 during planting for the Omankwa variety and 14/28 days after planting for the Pioneer hybrid variety in Ghana.