AUTHOR=Amanullah  , Iqbal Asif , Ali Ashraf , Fahad Shah , Parmar Brajendra 

TITLE=Nitrogen Source and Rate Management Improve Maize Productivity of Smallholders under Semiarid Climates

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=Volume 7 - 2016

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2016.01773

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2016.01773

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=Nitrogen is one of the most important factors affecting maize yield and profitability of smallholders under semiarid climates. Field experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of different N-fertilizer sources [urea, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) and ammonium sulphate (AS)] and rates (50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1) on umber of rows ear-1 (NOR ear-1), number of seeds row-1 (NOS row-1), number of seeds ear-1 (NOS ear-1), number of ears per 100 plants (NOEP 100 plants-1), grain yield plant-1, stover yield (kg ha-1) and shelling percentage (%) of maize genotypes “Local cultivars (Azam and Jalal) vs. hybrid (Pioneer-3025)”. The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Research Farm of the University of Agriculture Peshawar during summers of 2008 (year one) and 2010 (year two). The results revealed that the N treated (rest) plots (the average of all the experimental plots treated with N) had produced higher yield and yield components, and shelling percentage over N-control plots (plots where N was not applied). Application of nitrogen at the higher rate increased yield and yield components in maize (200 > 150 > 100 > 50 kg N ha-1). Application of AS and CAN had more beneficial impact on yield and yield components of maize as compared to urea (AS > CAN > urea). Hybrid maize (P-3025) produced significantly higher yield and yield components as well as higher shelling percentage than the two local cultivars (P-3025 > Jalal = Azam). We concluded from this study that application of N-fertilizer especially ammonium sulphate at the higher rate of 200 kg N ha-1 to hybrid maize could increase maize productivity and grower’s income in the study area. For the two local cultivars, application of 150 kg N ha-1 was found more beneficial than the recommended rate (120 kg N ha-1) in terms of higher yield, yield components and growers income.