Growth and yield of maize (Zea mays, L.) under various mulching, nitrogen application and soil moisture regimes
1988
Rifin, A.
Nitrogen and mulch application, but not irrigation, significantly affect most of the parameters in this study. Nitrogen application increased plant height, crop growth rate, leaf area index, nutrient uptake, grain yield and dry matter production. It lowered leaf area ratio and barrenness of maize ears and induced early silking in maize. As a result of luxuriant growth, nitrogen application helped reduce the maximum soil temperature and increased the water utilization by maize plants. Rice straw was a better mulching material than maize stover. Mulch, particularly rice straw, improved TDM [total dry matter] accumulation, plant height, leaf development, grain yield and nitrogen uptake. The effectiveness of rice mulch in conserving soil moisture and maintaining a low maximum soil temperature especially when soil moisture became low was observed. Residual effects of nitrogen application and mulching treatment were detected but the responses depend on the test crop species used. The most clear-cut case was observed with mungbean, where residual mulching effect resulted in a two-fold increase in bean yield. The residual nitrogen and mulching effects on LAI [leaf area index] were mostly confined to the first 30 days after seeding. Mulching and nitrogen fertilization had no residual effect on the final bean yield of cowpea.
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