Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Growth Yield and Quality of Forage Maize Zea mays L

Abstract

Forage maize (Zea mays L.) was used in a field experiment at the Demonstration Farm of the Faculty of Forestry and Range Sciences, Sudan University of Science and Technology at Soba during the season (2007-2008) to study the response of forage maize to different rates of nitrogen fertilizer. Parameters studied included: plant density, plant height (cm), number of leaves/ Plant, number of branches/ plant, leaf area (Cm2), leaf to stem ratio (L.S.R.), nutritive value (C.P%, C.F%). In addition, forage yield (ton/ha) (fresh and dry) were studied. The result showed no significant differences among the treatments for most parameters at different counts. The highest rate of nitrogen (2N) significantly increased forage fresh and dry yield and protein content (CP%).