Effect of Different Organic, Nitrogen Fertilizer and seasonality on Growth and Yield of Two Maize (Zea mays L.) Genotypes

Abstract

Nursery experiment was conducted at the nursery of the College of Agricultural Studies; Sudan University of Sciences and Technology, Shambat, during winter season, (2015/16) to investigate the response of six open pollinated genotypes of maize seeds, Hudiba1(C1), Hudiba2 (C2), VAR 113(C3), ZML 311(C4), ZML 309 (C5), ZML 305(C6), to three types of bacteria strain mixtures, Bacillus megatherium var phosphorus +Azotobacter spp (B1), Bacillus megatherium var phosphorus +Azotobacter spp +Azospirillium spp (B2) and Bacillus megatherium var phosphorus +Azotobacter spp + Flavobacterium spp (B3). Treatments were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicates three times. Growth parameters studied were plant height (cm), stem thickness (cm), number of leaves/plant, leaf area (cm2) and chlorophyll content. All genotypes responded significantly (P<0. 01) to inoculation with bacteria strain mixtures, on all growth parameters compared to control, except (C6). The results showed that (C2) and (C5) genotypes inoculated with bacteria strain mixtures (B2) and (B3) achieved the best plant growth compared to other genotypes. Field Experiments were conducted during two consecutive summer and two consecutive winter seasons of (2016/17 and 2017/18), at the Demonstration Farm, Sudan University of Sciences and Technology, College of Agricultural Studies, Shambat, to study the effect of organic fertilizers (bacteria strains), nitrogen fertilizer (urea) and their combinations on the performance of two maize genotypes, which best responded to bacteria strains at nursery experiment , namely Hudiba2 (V1) and ZML309 (V2), also bacteria strains which achieved greater plant growth in nursery experiment , (Bacillus megatherium var phosphorus +Azotobacter spp +Azospirillium spp (M1) and Bacillus megatherium var phosphorus +Azotobacter spp + Flavobacterium (M2)), were chosen. The treatments were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications, the main plots contained two maize genotypes (V1), (V2), sub plots contained nitrogen fertilizer in the form of urea applied at the rate of 197.6 kg/ha (N), bacteria strain mixtures M1, M2 and their combinations with urea (M1+N), (M2+N) and control (un-inoculated unfertilized). The same growth parameters in nursery experiment were studied as in the nursery experiment. Yield and yield components were studied; cob length (cm), number of cobs/plant, number of rows/cob, number of seeds/row, harvest index (%), hundred seed weight (g) , yield (t/ha), yield of fresh and dry forage (t/ha).Quality parameters included nitrogen(%), protein and fiber content. Economic evaluation included gross income (GI), net income (NI) and benefit cost ratio (BCR), and has been taken. From the result the combinations of bacteria strain mixtures with nitrogen fertilizer had highly significant effect (P=0.01) on all growth parameters, yield, yield components and quality parameters of seeds, summer and winter seasons for two years with both genotypes. Application of (M1+N) followed by (M2+N) achieved significant variation (P= 0.01) it recorded maximum yield (t/ha) in all seasons, on fresh forage, dry forage, and seeds quality parameters, Furthermore, the same applications were more profitable than others. Statistical analysis revealed that performance of genotype V2 was better than genotype V1 in growth and yield and yield components parameters for summer and winter seasons for two year, but V1 superiority on V2 in grain quality parameters in summer and winter seasons for two year, except for crude protein in first winter season. On the other hand economics analysis showed that during first summer seasons there were no-significant differences between the two genotypes, while in the second season V1 was better than V2. However, in both winter seasons, V2 was better than It can be concluded that improvement in maize plant growth and yield are more prominent and significant when genotype ZML309 inoculated with Bacillus megatherium var phosphorus+Azotobacter spp+ Flavobacterium spp and supplemented with 197.6 kg / ha (N), and Hudiba2 is good quality compare with ZML309.