PJB-2021-757
EFFECTS OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER AND SOIL MOISTURE LEVELS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF WATER EFFICIENT MAIZE GROWN ON FERRIC LUVISOL AND RHODIC FERRALSOL SOILS
Abidemi Ruth Adebayo
Abstract
Globally, water and nitrogen have been recognized as the main resources that significantly affect crop productivity. This study evaluated the response of Water Efficient Maize for Africa, WEMA3127 variety to different soil moisture levels and nitrogen fertilizer rates.on Ferric Luvisol and Rhodic Ferralsol soils. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different N fertilizer and soil moisture levels on the growth, yields and water-use efficiency of the WEMA variety on two distinct soils. The experiment was laid out in a 5 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment fitted into a completely randomized design with three replications. Treatments comprised five N fertilizer rates (0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 kg N/ha), two soil moisture levels [45 and 100% field capacity] and two soil types (Ferric Luvisol and Rhodic Ferralsol). Maize growth, grain yield and water-use efficiency parameters were determined.The tallest plant height (283.33 cm ) was recorded in Ferric luvisol supplied with 240 kg N/ha at 100% field capacity. Highest grain yield (136.8 g /pot) and water-use efficiency (1.94%) were obtained in Rhodic Ferralsol treated with 180 kg N/ha at 100% and 45% FC respectively. Linear relationship was obtained between N fertilizer rates and the grain yield (R2 = 0.91) as well as between total dry matter andgrain yield (R2 = 0.51). The results showed that the growth and water use efficiency of WE3127 maize varity were better on Rhodic Ferralsol than in ferric luvisol. Keywords: Water-use efficiency, total dry matter, grain yield, WEMA variety
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