International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

Optimized Nitrogen Fertility of the Soil for Maize Production in a Semi-Coral Ecology in Eastern Pemba

    ,

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Food Security and Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, P.O. Box 159 Zanzibar
  • 2Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3005 Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania

Res. J. Agriculture & Forestry Sci., Volume 4, Issue (7), Pages 6-12, July,8 (2016)

Abstract

Improving crop yields through soil fertility management is one of the best known conventional practices of modern agriculture. An experiment was conducted in a semi-coral area in Eastern Pemba to test different rates of Nitrogen fertilizer application for their influence on maize crop performance. Four rates 23, 46, 70 and 90kgN/ha were top-dressed on different varieties of the maize crop during the long rainy cropping season in 2013. Results show a very significant response of the crop to the levels of N application. Dry matter yield increased significantly with each level of N nutrient increase seemingly due to alike increase in plant height. Grain yield increased with N to highest level (4.39 t/ha) at 70kgN/ha thereafter it declined. No statistically significant grain yield difference (P < 0.05) existed with fertilizer rate change from 46kgN/ha to 90kgha-1, a clear indication of an optimum application rate around 70kgN/ha. Differential response trends were observed with the varieties used in the experiment. Variety Staha showed best interaction with N application, giving highest yield record of 6.06 t/ha observed at 70kgN/ha while the worst record interaction (2.61 t/ha) was of variety Situka with 23kgN/ha. Two varieties, JKU and TMV-1 showed exclusive interaction respectively for dry matter and grain yields. The rest of the varieties showed individually significant (P < 0.05) response to N levels for dry matter yield but for JKU the response was insignificant. Likewise for grain yield, response to N levels was insignificant for variety TMV-1 contrary the rest of the varieties.

References

  1. Shin-Gu K., Yussuf J.K., Mariam J.A., Soon-Kwon K. and Tae-Seon P. (2011)., Introduction and selection of improved open-pollinated maize varieties in Zanzibar, Tanzania., Korean Journal of International Agriculture, 23(1), 102-108.
  2. Stewart W.M. (2002)., Fertilizer contributions to crop yield., News and Views, A Regional newsletter published by the Potash and Phosphate Institute (PPI) and the Potash and Phosphate Institute of Canada (PPIC), 2.
  3. Busani B. (2014)., Small fertilizer amounts boost crop yields in Zimbabwe., SciDev Net, 11th April 2014.
  4. Adhiambo M. (2014)., Fertile soil could double, triple crop yields., Sci Dev Net, 19th Sept. 2014.
  5. Duflo M., Kremer M. and Robinson J. (2008)., How high are rates of return to fertilizer? Evidence from Field Experiments in Kenya., American Economic Association Meetings, New Orleans, January 2008.
  6. Abbasi M.K., Tahir M.M., Sadiq A., Iqbal M. and Zafar M. (2012)., Yield and N use efficiency of rain-fed maize response to splitting and N rates in Kashmir, Pakistan., Agronomy Journal 104(2), 448 – 457.
  7. Hammad H.M., Ahmad A., Khaliq T., Farhas W. and Mubeen M. (2011)., Optimizing rate of N application for higher yield and quality in maize under semi-arid environment., Crop Environ., 2, 38-41.
  8. Tobert H.A., Potter K.N. and Morrison J.E. (2001)., Tillage system, fertilizer N rate and timing effect on corn yields in the Texas Black land prairie., Agron J., 93, 1119-1124.
  9. Hoben J.P., Gehl R.J., Millar N., Grace P.R. and Robertson G.P. (2011)., Non-linear nitrous oxide (N2O) response to nitrogen fertilizer in on-farm corn crops of US Midwest., Global Change Biology 17(2), 1140-1152.
  10. Ma B.L., Subedi K.D. and Costa C. (2005)., Comparison of crop-based indicators with soil nitrate test for corn nitrogen requirement., Agron J., 97, 462-471.
  11. Walworth J.L. (2011)., Soil sampling and analysis., [cals.arizona.edu/pubs/crops/az1412.pdf]. Site visited on 19 May, 2012.
  12. Blakemore L.C., Searle P.L. and Daly B.K. (1987)., Methods for Chemical Analysis of Soils., New Zealand Soil Bureau Scientific Report 80, 103.
  13. Sonmez S., Buyuktas D., Okturen F. and Citak S. (2008)., Assessment of different soil to water ratios (1:1, 1:2.5, 1:5) in soil salinity studies., Geoderma, 144(1-2), 361-369.
  14. Bouyoucos G. (1962)., Hydrometer method improved for making particle size analysis of soils., Agronomy Journal, 54, 464-465.
  15. Guebel D.V., Nudeland B.C. and Giulietti A.M. (1991)., A Simple and micro-Kjeldahl method for total nitrogen analysis., Biotechnology Techniques, 5(6), 42-430.
  16. Schumacher B.A. (2002)., Methods for the determination of total organic carbon (TOC) in soils and sediments., NCEA-C- 1282, EMASC-001.
  17. Carter M.R. and Gregorich E.G. (2006)., Soil Sampling and Methods of Analysis., 2nd Edition, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, Broken Sound Parkway NW, 198.
  18. Chapman H.D. (1965)., Total Exchangeable Bases., In: Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2. Chemical and Microbiological Properties (Edited by Norman, A. G.), 1965, American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, Madison, USA. pp. 902-904.