Effect of Iron Foliar Application on Maize Grain Yield and Iron Concentration in Maize (Zea mays L.) Grain on the Ferralsols of Southern Togo

Abstract

With the aim of simultaneously improving maize grain productivity and nutritional value towards enhancing food security and fight against hidden hunger, a 2-year experiment (2020-2021) was carried out at the University of Lomé Agronomic Experiment Station. The experimental design was a split-plot with three replicates. Four maize varieties: Ikenne, Tzee, Sotubaka and Sammaz 52 and three iron application rates including a control (no iron application–Fe0), 7.50 litters ha-1 (Fe45) and 10 litters ha-1 of Feramin (Fe60) were the studied factors. Maize grain yield and grain Fe concentration were determined. Results showed that, on 2-year average basis, the highest maize grain yields under Ikenne (3.32±0.08 t ha-1) Tzee (2.49±0.10 t ha-1), Soubaka (4.03±0.10 t ha-1) and Sammaz 52 (3.85±0.19 t ha-1) was obtained with Fe60. Globaly, yield obtained under Fe60 was higher than those under Fe0 and Fe45 by 26 and 4% respectively. For the two years of study, the highest Fe concentrations were obtained in Ikenne and Tzee grains while the lowest were obtained in the first year in Sotubaka grains(55.21±2.96 mg kg-1) and in the second year in Sammaz 52 grains (41.66±2.19 mg kg-1). On 2-year average basis, the Fe concentration in Ikenne grains was higher than those in Tzee, Sotubaka and Sammaz 52 grains by 8.91; 13.92 and 19.27%, respectively. On this same basis, the highest grain Fe concentrations were obtained under the four varieties with Fe60. Globally, grain Fe concentration under Fe60 was higher than those under Fe0 and Fe45 by 141.89 and 20.31% respectively.