TIME OF UNSPLIT APPLICATION OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER TO MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

ABSTRACT

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop of the world, usually considered to have a high soil fertility requirement to achieve maximal yields and thus large quantities of N are required. The study was carried out to determine the nutrient concentration of the maize plant following one time application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers and was conducted at Teaching and Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. The experimental design used was a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates. Treatments were fertilizer application at sowing (0WAS), 1 week after sowing (1 WAS), 2 weeks after sowing (2 WAS), 3 weeks after sowing (3 WAS). Two control treatments were added: one without nitrogen application (Zero N) and the other with nitrogen applied in two splits (2 and 4 WAS). The variables studied were N concentration in soil, stem, leaves, husk and grain. Results revealed that an increased organic matter and total nitrogen in the soil. Nitrogen concentration of the plant parts analyzed varied with time of application and was highest in grain, and lowest in husk. Nitrogen uptake was highest when fertilizer was applied at sowing. Unsplit application of N fertilizer, compared to the conventional split application didn't have a significant effect on the nutrient content of the plant, but to reduce labour cost, farmer can apply fertilizer one time at sowing (0WAS).