Abstract
The field trial was carried out to evaluate the effect of timing nitrogen second dose fertilization on the grain yield and yield components of some improved maize varieties. The field experiments was conducted at the Institute for Agricultural Research IAR-ABU Research Farm Samaru – Zaria and Military Cantonment Farm Jaji – Nigeria. Treatments consist of three maize varieties (SAMMAZ 14, SAMMAZ 15 and SAMMAZ 16) and six timings of nitrogen second dose of fertilizer application. Data were recorded on grain yield, number of cobs /plant, number of grain /row, cob(ear) diameter, cob(ear) weight and 100 grain weight. Treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. SAMMAZ 16 produced significantly higher grain yield and recorded superior yield characters over SAMMAZ 14 and 15. The results further showed that time of nitrogen second dose application 6 WAS outperformed other timings evaluated at both location. The study identified. SAMMAZ 16 and time 6 WAS appeared to be the option for increased maize grain yield in the study area
Highlights
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important staple crop especially in the savannah ecological zone of Nigeria where production is on the increase (Ado et al, 2007)
Application of second dose of nitrogen at 6WAS produced significantly higher cob diameter than other timing regimes in Jaji but at Samaru, there was no significant difference among the various timing regimes except at 4 weeks after sowing (WAS) where cob diameter was significantly lower than any other timing regime of applying second dose of nitrogen fertilizer
At Jaji SAMMAZ 16 recorded the heaviest cob weight per plot which was significantly heavier than that recorded by SAMMAZ and SAMMAZ which recorded the lightest cob weight per plot
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important staple crop especially in the savannah ecological zone of Nigeria where production is on the increase (Ado et al, 2007). Careful consideration must be made between N supply and demand and met in maize cultivation which enhances N uptake rates and increase N use efficiency and subsiquently reducing N losses (Rizwan et al, 2003). The time of N fertilizer topdressing (second dose fertilization) is of paramount importance to maize crop because if it is missed, it could lead to low or no yield at all. The timing could be missed through non availability of the fertilizer to the farmers for purchase or non availability of labour to apply it as at when due e.t.c. the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of varying the timing of nitrogen fertilizer topdressing on the grain yield and some yield components of three maize varieties in the Nigeria savannah
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