Effect of Different Levels of Nitrogen and Phosphorus on the Phenology and Yield of Maize Varieties

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Malakabad (Gadera) Dargai Malak and KPK to study the effect of different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus on the yield of maize varieties in randomize complete block design with split plot arrangement. Different fertilization treatments (0:0, 100:0, 100:50, 100:100, 150:0, 150:50, 150:100, 150:150 N:P kg · ha - 1 ) were assigned to main plot while, maize varieties (Azam, Jalal and local) were kept in sub-plots. Data regarding emergence m - 2 , days to emergence, days to tasseling, days to silking, number of cobs plant - 1 , plant height, grains cob - 1 , 1000-grain weight and grain yield were recorded. Emergence m - 2 , days to emergence, days to tasseling, days to silking, plant ha - 1 at harvest were not significantly affected by different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus while number of cob plant - 1 , thousand grains weight, plant height, grains cob - 1 and grain yield were significantly affected. Maximum grain yield (5356 kg · ha - 1 ) was recorded in Jalal variety, when it was fertilized with 150:100 N:P kg · ha - 1 . Of the factors included in this study, maize cultivars and NP fertilization treatments were dominant in determining grain yield as well as its related components, suggesting that cultivar selection and optimum fertilization are effective strategies to improve grain yield. However, multiplication and multi-year studies are required to test these results using different cultivars under varying edaphic and climatic conditions.