Effect of Nutrient Omitting on Phonological Parameters and Growth Performance of Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) at Omo Nada District, Jimma Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

A plant nutrient is a chemical element that is essential for direct effect on plant growth and yield when it is applied based on soil nutrient level and crop requirement. Thus, a field experiment was conducted during 2019/20 cropping season to identify the most influential nutrient on the phonological and vegetative performance of maize on Nitisols of Omo Nada District, Southwestern Ethiopia. Nine combination of mineral fertilizers including one control plot with a total of ten treatments (NP, PKS (-N), NKS (-P), NPS (-K), NPK (-S), NPKS, NPKSZn (-B), NPKSB (-Zn) and NPKSZnB) were used. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) each replicated four times. The collected data was subjected to ANOVA using SAS 9.3 version software. LSD test was used to separate means at 5% level of significant (P<0.05). Accordingly, most of phonological and growth parameters were significantly affected due to combined application of major macronutrients (NPKS) with micronutrients (Zn), where non-fertilized and N omitted plots were inferior in all parameters. The results revealed that combined application of NPKS and Zn fertilizer significantly affected days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking, stem diameter, NDVI value, leaf area index and plant height. Therefore, we can recommend that appropriate fertilizer usage will address problems of limiting nutrients in most smallholder maize fields once the nutrients are established.