Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Soil Moisture Levels on the Performance of Drought-Tolerant Maize on Ferric Luvisol and Rhodic Ferralsol Soils

Abstract

Globally, water and nitrogen have been known as the most important resources that significantly impact crop productivity. This study assessed the response of Water Efficient Maize for Africa, WEMA3127 variety to different soil moisture levels, and nitrogen fertilizer rates on Ferric Luvisol and Rhodic Ferralsol soils. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different N fertilizer and soil moisture levels on the growth, yields and water-use efficiency of the water-efficient maize for Africa (WEMA) variety on two distinct soils. The experiment was designed as a completely randomized design with three replicates and used a factorial design with a 5 x 2 x 2 design. Treatments comprised five N fertilizer rates (0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 kg N/ha), two soil moisture levels (45 and 100% field capacity), and two soil types (Ferric Luvisol and Rhodic Ferralsol). Plant height, chlorophyll content and total dry matter weight as growth attributes, grain yield, total biological yield and water-use efficiency parameters were determined. The tallest plant height (283.33 cm) was recorded in Ferric Luvisol supplied with 240 kg N/ha at 100% field capacity. The highest grain yield (136.8 g /pot) and water-use efficiency (1.94%) were obtained in Rhodic Ferralsol treated with 180 kg N/ha at 100% and 45% field capacity (FC), respectively. A linear relationship was obtained between N fertilizer rates and the grain yield (R2 = 0.91) and between total dry matter and grain yield (R2 = 0.51). The results showed that the growth and water-use efficiency of WE3127 maize variety was better on Rhodic Ferralsol than in Ferric Luvisol.