Grain Yield and Nitrogen Uptake of Maize (Zea mays L.) as Affected by Soil Management Practices and Their Interaction on Cambisols and Chernozem

Ashenafi Nigussie,Alemayehu Kiflu,Wassie Haile,Getachew Agegnehu,Vera Popovic

doi:10.1155/2021/3411456

Ashenafi Nigussie, Alemayehu Kiflu + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/3411456

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Abstract

Although numerous factors contribute to wide yield gaps, low external inputs, particularly N, and poor cropping practices such as soil tillage and monocropping are among the major factors affecting low maize production. In view of this, field experiments were implemented on two sites with Cambisols and Chernozem soil types in two consecutive years to evaluate the impacts of different soil management practices on the grain yield and quality, nitrogen uptake, and selected soil properties. A three-factor experiment was arranged as a split-split plot arrangement randomized complete block design with three replications. The minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT) were used as the main plot, haricot bean-maize rotation and maize monocropping were used as the subplot, and four levels of nitrogen fertilization (control, 20 t ha-1 compost, 46 kg N ha−1 + 10 t ha−1 compost, and 92 kg N ha−1) were used as the sub-subplot. Analysis of variance showed that soil management practices were significantly affecting grain yield, N-uptake, and soil properties. In sites, the conventional tillage and rotation system increased the grain yield and N-uptake in contrast to the minimum tillage and monocropping, respectively. Similarly, nitrogen evidently affected the grain yield, N-uptake, and selected soil properties. However, tillage methods differed in their effects on soil chemical properties; soil organic carbon and total nitrogen concentrations were improved through MT compared to CT. Grain yield was signiﬁcantly associated with NDVI, grain N-content, and N-uptake. Therefore, a CT plus haricot bean-maize rotation system with the addition of solely 92 kg N ha−1 and integrated 46 kg N ha−1 + 10 t compost ha−1 could be recommended for Hawassa Zuria (Cambisols) and Meskan (Chernozem) districts, respectively. However, in order to ensure sustainable maize production in the investigated areas, an integrated N treatment with MT and a rotation system may be recommended, which could improve soil properties.

Highlights

Maize or corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the world’s leading cereals, ranking second in production after wheat [1]
At the minimum tilled plots, the compost was evenly distributed on the surface of the soil and the incorporation was made during sowing since in the minimum tillage method we proposed to till the soil once that is during seed sowing using ox-drawn local Maresha
The available P level was lower (4.52 mg kg−1) at Hawassa Zuria compared to Meskan (23.7 mg kg−1). is implies that, in Hawassa Zuria, the soil (Cambisols) is more responsive to nitrogen- and phosphorus-containing fertilizer application than at Meskan (Chernozem soil type). e cation exchange capacity was medium at Hawassa Zuria 20 cmolc kg−1, which was attributed to low exchangeable Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+, while at Meskan the CEC was 62 cmolc kg−1 and rated as higher [38]. e initial soil information showed a significant soil fertility variation between the experimental sites, and it is justifiable to conduct more detailed nitrogen content studies along with different soil management practices

Summary

Introduction

Maize or corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the world’s leading cereals, ranking second in production after wheat [1]. Ethiopia is the seventh maize-producing country in Africa. It is the second in area coverage next to teff (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.)), with a total land area of 10,478,217 ha being under cereals, of which maize covered about 17.68% (2,274,305.93 ha) [2]. Despite the large area under maize production, its current national average yield is about 4.2 t ha−1 [2], which is far below the world’s average yield of. Numerous factors contribute to wide yield gaps, low external inputs, N, poor soil fertility, reduced water-holding capacity of the soil, and poor soil infiltration problems are among the major factors paid for low maize productivity [3,4,5]. Frequent tillage, monocropping, and complete removal of crop residues are the governing factors for low productivity [6]

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