Maize (Zea mays L.) Productivity and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Response to Nitrogen Application Levels and Time

Abstract

Productivity of maize (Zea mays L.) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) as affected by nitrogen application levels and timing were studied. The experimental design was a three-replication randomized complete block design (RCBD). The first factor was nitrogen levels (122, 240, 288 and 336 kg N/ha) and the second factor was nitrogen timing (50% of N at sowing and 50% of N before the first irrigation; T1, 50% of N at sowing and 50% of N before the second irrigation; T2 and 50% of N before the first irrigation and 50% of N before the second irrigation; T3). Results indicated that plant height, ear length, kernel weight, number of grains/rows, number of grains/ear and grain yields all increased significantly as nitrogen levels increased and the level of 336 kg N/ha significantly exhibiting the highest values in both seasons. In terms of nitrogen application time, maize yield parameters such as plant height, ear length, kernel weight/ear, number of grains/rows, number of grains/ear and grain yield were significantly affected by nitrogen timing, with the highest values obtained at T3 while the lowest values obtained at T1 in both seasons. The interaction had a significant impact on plant height and grain yield/ha, with the tallest plants, the highest yields and its components observed at 336 kg N/ha, with 50% of N applied during the first irrigation and 50% of N applied during the second. Furthermore, under the study conditions, NUE decreased dramatically as nitrogen levels increased and increased significantly as nitrogen application time changed.

Yield Response of Hybrid and Open Pollinated Maize (Zea mays L.) Varieties to Different Levels of Fertilizer Nitrogen under Rain-Fed Conditions in the Bono Region of Ghana

“…Te results suggest that increasing levels of N application could increase yield attributes of maize, especially hybrid maize probably due to efciency in dry matter partitioning in hybrid maize (Pannar 12) relative to the open pollinated variety (Omankwa). Te results of this study are in accordance with those of Gheith et al [30] and Srivastava et al [31] who found that yield and yield components of maize increased by increasing application rate of nitrogen (N).…”

Estimating the combining ability and genetic parameters for growth habit, yield, and fiber quality traits in some Egyptian cotton crosses

“…In this study, distinct genotypes of both female parental lines and testers showed positive and negative GCA effects, indicating that they were either prospective good combiners or bad combiners in terms of particular studied traits. Given that these genotypes have good general combining ability, female parental genotypes with a great potential to transmit on desirable traits to their cross progeny could be used as a substantial material to improve the qualities of interest [ 11 , 42 ]. The significant GCA effects reported in the current investigation were consistent with those found in prior studies [ 31 , 60 – 62 ].…”

Genetic analysis of yield traits in Egyptian cotton crosses (Gossypium barbdense L.) under normal conditions

“…In addition, highly significant differences were exhibited across female parental genotypes, testers, and their interaction for studied traits. Practically, the combining ability of genotypes is dissected to discover genotypes with high genetic potential for developing cross combinations with desired traits and to study the activity of genes involved in trait expression [33,[57][58][59][60]. Using the Line X Tester analytic method, we can better estimate and predict essential quantitative features, which is a well-established biometrical genetics-based approach in the context of this inquiry [5,22,25,54,[61][62][63][64] Combining ability is measured via two genetic parameters, GCA and SCA, which may be respectively controlled by the additive genetic effects and non-allelic interactions of the parents [33,65,66].…”