Understanding Nutrient Imbalances in Maize (Zea mays L.) using the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) Approach in the Maize Belt of Nigeria

Abstract

Low nutrient use efficiency in maize as a result of imbalanced nutrition has been reported to drastically reduce yield. We implemented, a nutrient omission experiment to assess the effect of nutrient application on maize yield and nutritional balance. Maize ear leaves were analyzed for nutrients, to identify nutrient balance status using the Diagnostic and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) approach. Results indicated that omission of N or P resulted in highly imbalanced DRIS indices respectively, and significantly lower grain yield. A strong inverse relationship between K ear leaf content with DRIS index suggests that K application negatively increases K imbalance in many situations. Imbalances of Mg, Ca and Cu were more associated with higher yielding treatments. A Which-Won-Where result show that nutrient imbalances in the diagnosis were systematically frequent when N was omitted. All the diagnosed nutrients were imbalanced even under the highest yielding NPKZn treatment; indicating further opportunity for yield increase with more balanced nutrition. Balanced nutrition of maize in the maize belt of Nigeria should target application of varying amounts of N, P, K, Mg, S and Zn, depending on the soil condition. But because of complexities of nutrient interactions during uptake, it is hardly possible to realize a balanced nutrition. However, differentiating the application of antagonistic nutrients into foliar or soil-based methods is recommended for a more balanced maize nutrition.

Maize yield as affected by the interaction of fertilizer nitrogen and phosphorus in the Guinea savanna of Nigeria

“…Fertilizer rate and type [ 19 ], crop genetic makeup and physiological components [ 20 , 21 ], availability of other nutrients [ 22 , 23 ], soil physical properties [ 24 , 25 ] and crop management practices [ 24 , 26 , 27 ] can all have major influence on nutrient use efficiency. The application of N increased nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by 13–96% [ 28 , 29 ].…”

Compositional nutrient diagnosis and associated yield predictions in maize: A case study in the northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria

“…Using the control (no nutrient application) plots in the LYI as the ultimate indicator of an existing nutrient imbalance, the major nutrient deficiencies in the northern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria are N, P, S, Cu, B, and Mn. As described above, N and P deficiencies in maize in the Nigerian savanna have been reported in several research papers (Aliyu et al., 2021; Ekeleme et al., 2014; Kamara, 2017; Nziguheba et al., 2009). Due to the low levels of these nutrients (N and P) in the soil and the positive relationship between soil and ear leaf content, optimization of soil content is crucial to correct limitations and maximize yield.…”

“…(2014) found Cu deficiency in some parts of Nigerian savanna soils. Similarly, widespread B deficiency was found in some parts of savanna soils in northern Nigeria (Aliyu et al., 2021; Kihara et al., 2016; Oyinlola & Chude, 2010). Copper and B deficiencies are common in many cereals and occur either as severe deficiencies affecting vegetative organs or as mild deficiencies (hidden starvation) affecting the reproductive potential of plants (Njoroge et al., 2017).…”

“…(2009), and Aliyu et al. (2021). The application of S in the NPK+ plots in this study significantly reduced the incidence of S deficiency in the study area from >70% to <40%.…”

New Approach to the Applicability of DRIS in Bananas Based on the Accuracy of Nutritional Diagnoses for Nitrogen and Potassium

“…In these circumstances, the assessment of the nutritional status for bananas, shows states of su ciency, de ciency, or toxicity of nutrients that directly interfere with fruit productivity 3 . For this, the use of diagnostic methods that compare the results of leaf levels of nutrients in a sample with the appropriate nutritional standards obtained in crops with a high productivity is essential 4 , and may help in designing e cient nutrient management practices for improved crop yield 5 . This procedure for interpreting leaf nutritional values for bananas has traditionally been based on the standards critical level (CL) and/or su ciency range (SR) 6 , where, according with these authors, each nutrient is considered alone (univariate relationship) and not considering possible interactions between them 7 .…”