Evaluating the response of maize to different fertilizer timings

Author

Mugurachani, Gurdon T.

Title

Evaluating the response of maize to different fertilizer timings

Abstract

Optimal timing of top dressing nitrogen fertilizer application is crucial for maximizing maize grain yield and reducing impacts of maize productivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of five different top dressing fertilizer applications timings on maize plant height, plant lodging, response to grey leaf spot, 1000 kernel weight and grain yield. The experiment was conducted in a complete randomized block design with five treatments. The treatments included very early application, early application, two splits, five splits and delayed application. Data collection was done starting from the vegetative stage up to the point after harvesting where final grain yield was measured. Data was analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Genstat 18th edition and Fischer’s protected test least significant difference test (LSD) at 0.05 significant level to separate the treatment means. The results showed that the five splits had the highest final grain yield, while lodging was the lowest and generally performs better in all the measured parameters. These finding indicate that applying top dressing nitrogen fertilizer to maize in splits applications throughout the growing season can optimize plant growth rate, reduce disease pressure, improves root development and grain yield. The five splits timing likely provided a more consistent supply of nitrogen to the crop during critical growth stages compared to very early, early and delayed application. Therefore, it can be recommended to farmers that consider implementing splitting top dressing into at least three to five splits to improve maize productivity and resource use efficiency. In conclusion the results suggest that proper timing of top dressing fertilizer application can significantly affect growth and yield with five splits showing promising results.

Date

June 2024

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Maize

Fertilizer

Supervisor

Professor R. Mandumbu