Effect of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizers on Yield and Yield Components of Three Cultivars of Maize (Zea mays)

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted in the Demonstration Farm of People’s Arms Defense Camp at El-Getaina (White Nile) for the two consecutive seasons (summer and winter) 2001/02 to study the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on yield and yield components of three cultivars of maize (Zea mays L.) under irrigation. The treatments used consisted of three levels of nitrogen control (N0), 43 kg N/ha, (N1), 86 kg N/ha (N2), two levels of phosphorus control (P0), 43 kg P2O5/ha, (P1) and three cultivars, Giza- 2 (V1), Mugtama-45 (V2) and Pannar-6480 (V3). The 18 factorial treatments were executed in randomized complete block design, with 5 replications. The results obtained showed that the nitrogen fertilizer had a significant effect on growth of maize cultivars, particularly plant height and leaves number, leaf area and dry weight of plant. Nitrogen fertilizer also significantly affected final seed yield and some yield components, cob yield and number of seeds per cob. When phosphorus fertilizer has no significant effect on seed yield. The studies obtained showed negligible differences between the two seasons (summer and winter) in seed yield. This suggest that the maize crop can be grown successfully in both seasons, but since there is few winter crops, it would be possible to treat maize as a winter crop in the area to intensively and diversify the rotations.