The Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus on Yield and Yield Components of Maize (Zea mays L.) Under Irrigation

Abstract

An experiment was conducted for two seasons (1991/92 and 1992/93) in order to study the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on yield and yield components of irrigated maize (Zea mays L.) in the Demonstration Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Shambat. The experimental design used was a randomized complete block with four replications. Three N treatments (0N, 40 kg N/ha and 80 kg N/ha) and three P treatments (0P, 50 kg P2O5/ha and 100 kg P2O5/ha) were used. Urea (46% N) and triplesuperphosphate (48% P2O5) were used as sources of N and P, respectively. All fertilizers were applied at sowing. The results showed that N had significant effects on cob number/m2, number of rows and number and weight of seeds/cob, 1000-seed weight and final seed yield. On the other hand, P affected most of the parameters studied but the effect was not significant. However, N and P had significant interaction on seed yield and seed weight/cob.