Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) is the major cereal crop in Ethiopia and plays a crucial role in ensuring food security. However, its productivity is constrained by a number of problems, among which use of high or low plant population and poor soil fertility management are the most critical once. Therefore, a field experiment was undertaken to determine the optimal NPSB fertilizer rate and plant population for maize at Bako. The experiment was laid out in split plot design distributing three levels of plant population [53,333 plants ha -1 (25 x75 cm), 66,666 plants ha -1 (60x25cm) and 76923 plants ha -1 (65x20cm)] in the main plots and five levels of NPSB fertilizer rates (0,100,150,200 and 250 kg NPSB ha -1 ) and recommended NP rates as sub-plots. The interaction of plant population and NPSB rates influenced significantly (P<5 %) leaf area index, number of cobs plot -1 , number of kernel cob -1 , dry biomass and thousand kernel weight. The highest leaf area index 6.661 was recorded on the combination of 66,666 plants ha -1 with 200 kg NPSB fertilizer rate. The highest number of cob plot -1 (115.3) and dry biomass yield 28,299 kg ha -1 were recorded from 66,666 plant ha -1 with 150 kg NPSB ha -1 , and 53,333 plant ha -1 with standard check 92/69 kg NP ha -1 , respectively. The highest grain yield 9954 kg ha -1 with net profit of 76,038 Birr with marginal rate of return 598% was obtained from 150 kg NPSB ha -1 with 66666 plants ha -1 (60 cmx25 cm). Therefore, application of 150 kg NPSB ha -1 with 66666 plants ha -1 for farmers in the study area and with similar agro-ecology can use and can improve maize productivity. However, the experiment need to be further verified in multi-locations for better usage at different agro-ecologies. Keywords: plant population, blended fertilizer, maize, yield DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/12-21-04 Publication date: November 30 th 2021
Highlights
Maize (Zea mays L.) is a multipurpose crop that provides food, feed and industrial row material (Zamir et al, 2010)
Majority of Africans are depended on maize directly or indirectly as a human food, animal feed and cash crop for lively hood income sources, amidst soil nutrient deficiencies (Sigunga and Musandu, 2008)
Similar results were obtained by Fassil and Charles (2009) who reported that in western part of Ethiopia the soils tends to acidic soil
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.) is a multipurpose crop that provides food, feed and industrial row material (Zamir et al, 2010) It is an important cereal crop in the world and cultivated in wide agro ecology (Bassu et al, 2014) and ranks third next to wheat in total production over the world (Aziz et al, 2007). Majority of Africans are depended on maize directly or indirectly as a human food, animal feed and cash crop for lively hood income sources, amidst soil nutrient deficiencies (Sigunga and Musandu, 2008) It is the main staple food for millions of people in developing countries especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is a C4 crop with a great photosynthetic efficiency (Lukombo et al, 2013)
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