Abstract
An experiment was conducted at Malakabad (Gadera) Dargai Malak and KPK to study the effect of different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus on the yield of maize varieties in randomize complete block design with split plot arrangement. Different fertilization treatments (0:0, 100:0, 100:50, 100:100, 150:0, 150:50, 150:100, 150:150 N:P kg·ha-1) were assigned to main plot while, maize varieties (Azam, Jalal and local) were kept in sub-plots. Data regarding emergence m-2, days to emergence, days to tasseling, days to silking, number of cobs plant-1, plant height, grains cob-1, 1000-grain weight and grain yield were recorded. Emergence m-2, days to emergence, days to tasseling, days to silking, plant ha-1 at harvest were not significantly affected by different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus while number of cob plant-1, thousand grains weight, plant height, grains cob-1 and grain yield were significantly affected. Maximum grain yield (5356 kg·ha-1) was recorded in Jalal variety, when it was fertilized with 150:100 N:P kg·ha-1. Of the factors included in this study, maize cultivars and NP fertilization treatments were dominant in determining grain yield as well as its related components, suggesting that cultivar selection and optimum fertilization are effective strategies to improve grain yield. However, multiplication and multi-year studies are required to test these results using different cultivars under varying edaphic and climatic conditions.
Highlights
Maize (Zea mays L.; family poaceae) is the third most important cereal crop after wheat and rice in Pakistan and mostly consumed as human food and animal feed and provides raw material for food industry
No of Cobplant−1 Three rows harvested for grain yield were used to determine the numbers of cobs/plant
Grains Cob−1 The cob harvested for grain yield were used for the determination of number of grains per cob by selecting 5 cobs randomly from each subplot, dried and shelled for counting the grains per cob data
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.; family poaceae) is the third most important cereal crop after wheat and rice in Pakistan and mostly consumed as human food and animal feed and provides raw material for food industry It can be grown twice a year, both for grain and fodder purposes. Phosphorus is essential for inflorescence, grain formation; ripening and reproductive parts of maize plant Ibrahim and Kandil [5] It is needed for growth, nucleus formation, photosynthesis, utilization of sugar and starch, cell division and fat and albumen formation. The combined application of Phosphorus with nitrogen increased the yield significantly Moschler and Martens [9] Cultivars differ in their response to nutrient supply when planted in different geographical environments.
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