Nitrogen Fertilizer Split Application Response on Late Maturing Maize ((Zea mays L.) at Banshure and Omonada Woredas, Sowthwest Ethiopia

Résumé fourni par la source

The field experiments were carried out at Buno Bedele and Omonada Jimma Zones on farmers’ fields for three consecutive main seasons and two sites each. The 10 treatments were laid down in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications using (BH661) hybrid maize variety. All across season and location data analysis of ANNOVA showed that all parameters were significantly affected by different time of nitrogen applications including plant height, grain yield, and harvest index, above ground biomass and logging percentage. The two highest grain yield 6.48 and 6.47 was recorded from applying 1/3 at planting + 2/3 at flag leaf appearance stage and applying 1/2 at planting + 1/2 at 4-5 weeks after emerge (Positive control) respectively again this treatment gave 13.08 and 12.62 t ha-1 above ground biomass yield respectively. The highest grain yield has 78.24 and 23.00 % yield advantage over negative control and applying all recommended N rate at planting respectively. Again in economic analysis, the above treatments gave the highest 111660 and 111840 net benefit respectively. Even though the applying 1/3 at planting + 2/3 at flag leaf appearance treatment MMR was not acceptable. Therefore, based on the highest net benefit applying 1/2 at planting + 1/2 at 4-5 weeks after emerge (Positive control) and applying 1/3 at planting + 2/3 at flag leaf appearance nitrogen fertilizer split application on late maturing (BH661) maize variety give an economic yield response and also acceptable for farmers of study areas and similar agro ecology.