Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Adamawa State
University Mubi, during the 2017 rainy season to determine the effect of fertilizer application
periods on the growth and yield of two hybrid maize varieties. The varieties were: OBA-98 and
SAMMAZ-27. Fertilizer was applied twice for the first treatment, (NPK 15:15:15 2WAS+ Urea
46% 6WAS) was applied. For the second treatment (NPK 15:15:15 3WAS+ Urea 46% 7 WAS)
at the rate of 240kg ha-1. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design
(RCBD) in three replicates. Data was collected on Plant height, days to 50% flowering, days to
50% tasselling, days to 50% silking, days to 90% maturity, ear length, number of rows per ear,
Number of kernel per ear, 1000 kernel weight, seed yield per plot and grain yield (kg ha -1). The
data collected was analyzed using MINITAB computer soft ware program, significant mean
were separated by Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at P<0.05.The result showed significant
difference at p<0.05 for number of kernel per ear and grain yield in kg ha-1 with OBA-98
having a better performance when (NPK 15:15:15 2WAS+ Urea 46% 6WAS) was applied.
There was also varietal difference with respect to ear length, number of row per ear, seed yield
per plot and grain yield in kg ha-1. Significant interaction was also observed between fertilizer
application periods and varieties with respect to 1000 seed weight. Suggested that the response
of the two hybrid varieties differ across the two fertilizer application periods, with OBA-98
produced the heaviest kernel weight when (NPK 15:15:15 2WAS+ Urea 46% 6WAS) was used.
Therefore application of (NPK 15:15:15 2WAS+ Urea 46% 6WAS) is the most reliable period
for fertilizer application in maize for yield enhancement most especially with OBA-98 hybrid
maize in Mubi environment and optional for general use in agriculture |
