Influence of Integrated Nutrients on Growth, Yield and Quality of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Azhar Ghaffari, Asghar Ali, Muhammad Tahir, Muhammad Waseem, M. Ayub, Asif Iqbal, Atta Ullah Mohsin

Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan.

DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2011.21009                

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the integrated nutrients effect on growth, yield and quality of maize (Zea mays L.) during spring, 2009, at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The ex-periment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) having three replications with following treat-ments: T1 (control), T2(recommended NPK @ 200-120-125 kg ha-1), T3 [single spray of multinutrient (a solution mixture of micronutrients i.e; Zn = 2%, Fe = 1%, B = 1%, Mn = 1%, Cu = 0.2% and macronutrients N = 1%, K2O = 2%, S = 2%) @ 1.25Lha-1], T4 (recommended NPK @ 200-120-125 kg ha-1 + single spray of multinutrient @ 1.25L ha-1), T5 (recom-mended NPK @ 200-120-125 kg ha-1 + two spray of multinutrient @1.25Lha-1) and T6 (recommended NPK @ 200-120-125 kg ha-1+ three spray of multinutrient @ 1.25Lha-1).The recommended dose of NPK in addition with single spray of Multi-nutrients substationally improved all growth parameters, ear characteristics and also enhanced macronutrients use efficiency up to 11.5% which induced significant increase in grain yield as compared to control and also in the treatment where recommended dose of NPK was applied alone. The quality parameter of maize (oil contents) significantly improved by foliar application of multinutrients solution but recommended dose of fertilizer in addition to single spray of Multi-nutrients was economical.

Keywords

Multi-Nutrients, Foliarapplication, Nutrients Use Efficiency, Oil Content

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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