Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research
 

Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research 

Vol. 4(2), pp. 35-44. February, 2016.

ISSN: 2360-7874 

 DOI: 10.14662/ARJASR2015.069

Full Length Research

Growth and Yield Response of Maize (Zea mays L.) to Different Nitrogen Levels in Acid Soils

Matusso, Jossias Mateus Materusse^1*

¹African Fertilizer Agribusiness Partnerships, Chimoio-Mozambique

^*Corresponding Author. E-mail: matujossias@gmail.com

Accepted 14 January 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different levels of nitrogen fertilizer on the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in Gondola district, Central Mozambique. The experiment was conducted during 2014/2015 and it was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The treatments consisted of three nitrogen levels (25.2 kg N ha^-1, 36 kg N ha^-1, 46.8 kg N ha^-1) and control. The results revealed that maize growth parameters (plant height, ear height, stem girth, and ear length) increased significantly (p<0.001) with increase in nitrogen level; and the level of 46.8 kg N ha^-1 observed significantly the highest values. Maize yield characters, namely ear weight with pit, pitted ear weight, grain weight and 1000 grain weight, also increased significantly (p<0.001) with increase in nitrogen level. The nitrogen level of 46.8 kg N ha^-1 observed significantly the highest values of these parameters. The N level of 46.8 kg N ha^-1 observed significantly the highest maize grain yield (1.14 t ha-1; p<0.0001; CV=21.03%) than all other treatments. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis indicated that there were significant (p<0.05) positive relationships amongst maize growth characters, yield parameters and maize grain yield. The findings of the study concluded that nitrogen level of 46.8 kg N ha-1showed better performance of maize crop in terms of growth, yield, and yield attributes.

Keywords: Maize (Zea mays L.), Nitrogen levels, Grain Yields, Acid soils.

How to cite this article: Matusso JMM (2016). Growth and Yield Response of Maize (Zea mays L.) to Different Nitrogen Levels in Acid Soils. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. 4(2): 35-44.

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