Effect of Diammonium Phosphate Fertilization on Growth and Yield of Irrigated Forage Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Demonstration Farm, College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Shambat, during the winter season of 2012/13, to investigate the effect of diammonium phosphate (DAP)fertilizer (18%N, 46% P2O5) on growth and yield of irrigated forage maize(Zea mays L.) only one season. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with three replications. Two maize genotypes hybrids was used Eden and Boon (C1 and C2), the fertilizers treatment consisted of five levels of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer: 50kg DAP/ha (D2), 100kg DAP/ha (D3), 150kg DAP/ha (D4), 200kg DAP/ha (D5) and control zero kgDAP/ha (D1). Characters studied included: relative growth rate, plant height, leaf area, stem diameter and fresh forage yield tons/ha. The results showed that diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizers treatments had a significant effect on growth of the two maize genotypes (Eden and Boon), leaf area and plant height, while no significant differences were obtained in the relative growth rate, stem diameter, and yield .