Response of water stressed maize (zea mays l.) to selected N-fertilizers
2009
Osman, A.A., Agricultural Research Corporation, Wad Medani (Sudan) | Ali, E.S., Agricultural Research Corporation, Wad Medani (Sudan) | Adam, A.I., University of Gezira, Wad Medani (Sudan). Faculty of Agricultural Sciences | Hamad, M.E., University of Gezira, Wad Medani (Sudan). Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
This study was conducted to investigate the response of water stressed maize (Zea mays L.) to nitrogen fertilizers with respect to growth and yield. The study was carried out at the Gezira Research Station Farm, Agricultural Research Corporation, Wad Medani, Sudan, with semi-arid climate, at the intersection of latitude 14 deg C 24/ N, and longitude 33 deg C 29/ E and at an altitude of 407 m above sea level. The soil is a cracking Vertisols. The experiment was laid in a split plot design with three replications using the Egyptian hybrid maize variety, H-351 as a test crop. Irrigation treatments in the main plots, were normal irrigation (every 10 days) and stress irrigation (every 20 days), while fertilizer sources, viz: urea, ammonium sulphate and ammonium sulphate nitrate each with three rates of 0, 43 and 86 kg N/ha, were used at the subplot level. In addition to growth and yield parameters, observations included root shoot ratio (RSR) and leaf area index (LAI). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out using SAS computer package. The results showed that normal irrigation gave vigorous plant growth, with biomass of 4651 kg/ha, while water stress caused a reduction in grain yield compared to that of the normal irrigation. Under water stress the root shoot ratio increased due to increased root length and weight. Increasing nitrogen level with normal irrigation resulted in the highest growth rate irrespective to N- source. Use of 86 kg N/ha, ammonium sulphate nitrate gave the highest grain yield (1448 kg/ha) compared to that of the other fertilizer sources. Water stress was found to be more limiting than N fertilization and that the 43 kg N/ha was probably adequate for maize production under water stress conditions
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