Agricultural Science Digest

Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizer Rates on Maize (Zea mays L.) Growth and Yields in Terraced Lands of Medium and High Altitude Regions of Rwanda

DOI: 10.18805/ag.D-176    | Article Id: D-176 | Page : 242-248
Citation :- Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizer Rates on Maize (Zea mays L.) Growth and Yields in Terraced Lands of Medium and High Altitude Regions of Rwanda.Agricultural Science Digest.2020.(40):242-248
A. Fashaho, A.O. Musandu, J.J. Lelei, S.M. Mwonga, G.M. Ndegwa fashaho@yahoo.fr
Address : Department of Crop Sciences, University of Rwanda, P.O. Box 210, Musanze, Rwanda. 
Submitted Date : 8-07-2019
Accepted Date : 12-05-2020
First Online:

Abstract

Depletion of nitrogen and phosphorus in terraced hilly areas of Rwanda has lowered maize (Zea mays L.) production. Trials were carried out in 2017 and 2018 in four-year-old-terraced Lixisols and Acrisols of medium and high altitudes to determine effect of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application rates on maize yields. A factorial arrangement of four levels of nitrogen (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg N ha-1) and phosphorus (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg P2O5 ha-1) in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications, was used. Results showed that combinations of 120 - 180 kg N ha-1 and 80 - 120 kg P2O5 ha-1 resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) higher increases in plant height (45 – 60 % and 56 – 70 % over the control), stem collar diameter (63 – 74 % and 43 % over the control) and grain yields (3 times over the control; i.e. 6.40 – 6.46 t ha-1 and 6.02 - 6.12 t ha-1) in medium and high altitude sites. The optimum fertilizer rates are 176.6 kg N ha-1 and 96.2 kg P2O5 ha-1 in terraced Lixisols of medium altitude area. Land use needs to adjust fertilizer application to these optimum rates for enhanced maize yields in this area and other regions with similar agro-ecological characteristics. Further studies on integrated effects of N and P fertilizers are recommended.

Keywords

Acrisols Grain yield Lixisols Nitrogen Phosphorus

References

  1. Belfield, S. and Brown, C. (2008). Field Crop Manual/ : Maize A Guide to Upland Production in Cambodia. (N. D. of P. Industries, Ed.). 50 p.
  2. Cassman, K. G. and Plant, R.E. (1992). A model to predict crop response to applied fertilizer nutrients in heterogeneous fields. Fertilizer Research. 31: 151–163.
  3. Chianu, J. N., Chianu, J. N. and Mairura, F. (2012). Mineral fertilizers in the farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development. 32: 545–566. DOI: 10.1007/s13593-011-0050-0.
  4. Fashaho, A., Ndegwa, G.M., Lelei, J.J., Musandu, A.O. and Mwonga, S.M. (2019). Variations in soil chemical properties and bacteria and fungi populations along slope positions and profile depths in terraced and non- terraced lands of Rwanda highlands. Agricultural Science Digest. 39(3): 215-219. DOI: 10.18805/ag.D-149.
  5. Fashaho A., Ndegwa, M.G., Lelei, J.J., Musandu, O.A. and Mwonga, M.S. (2020). Effect of land terracing on soil physical properties across slope positions and profile depths in medium and high altitude regions of Rwanda. South African Journal of Plant and Soil. DOI: 10.1080/02571862. 2019. 1665722.
  6. Getnet, B.E. and Dugasa, T. (2019). Response of maize yield and yield related components to different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. Acta Scientific Agriculture. 3(1): 3-8.
  7. Gicumbi District. (2013). Gicumbi District Development Plan (2013-2018). (GicumbiDistrict, Ed.). Kigali, Rwanda. 116 p.
  8. Gomez, K.A. and Gomez, A.A. (1984). Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research (Vol. 6). John Willey and Sons, Inc.
  9. Jassal, R.K., Kang, J.S., Singh, H. and Singh, T. (2017). Growth, phenology and seed yield of fodder maize in relation to different planting methods and nitrogen levels. Inter -national Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences. 6(4): 1723–1735.
  10. Kaur, A. (2016). Effect of different planting methods and nitrogen levels on the growth , yield and quality of kharif maize (Zea mays L.). Thesis. Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. 91 p.
  11. Kelly, V. and Murekezi, A. (2000). Fertilizer Response and Profitability in Rwanda. 46 p.
  12. Khan, F., Khan, S., Fahad, S., Faisal, S., Hussain, S., Ali, S. and Ali, A. (2014). Effect of different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus on the phenology and yield of maize varieties. American Journal of Plant Sciences. 4: 2582–2590. DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2014.517272.
  13. Masood, T., Gul, R., Munsif, F., Jalal, F., Hussain, Z., Noreen, N. and Khan, H. (2011). Effect of different phosphorus levels on the yield and yield components of maize. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture. 27(2): 167–170.
  14. Meyers, L.S., Gamst, G. and Guarino, A.J. (2009). Data Analysis Using SAS Enterprise Guide. Cambridge.
  15. Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI). (2009). Farmar’s diary 2008-2009. Kigali - Rwanda. 516 p
  16. National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). (2016). Seasonal Agriculture Survey 2015. Kigali. 130 p.
  17. Om, H., Singh, S. P., Singh, J. K., Ansari, M. A., Meena, R. L. and Yadav, B. (2014). Short Communication. Productivity, nitrogen balance and economics of winter maize (Zea mays L.) as influenced by QPM cultivars and nitrogen level Productivity. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 84(2): 130–132.
  18. Ramos, M.C., Cots-Folch, R. and Martínez-Casasnovas, J.A. (2007). Effects of land terracing on soil properties in the priorat region in Northeastern Spain: A multivariate analysis. Geoderma. 142: 251 – 261.
  19. Reddy, U.V.B., Reddy, G.P., Reddy, M.S. and Kavitha, P. (2018). Effect of different nitrogen and phosphorus levels on growth and yield of maize during kharif season. Inter- -national Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences. 7(1): 3548–3555.
  20. Roy, R. N., Finck, A., Blair, G. J. and Tandon, H. L. S. (2006). Plant nutrition for food security; A guide for integrated nutrient management. FAO Fertilizer and Plant Nutrition Bulletin (16th ed.). FAO. Rome
  21. Rwamagana District. (2013). District Development Plan 2013/2014 - 2017/2018. (Rwamagana District, Ed.). Kigali, Rwanda. 146 p.
  22. Sapkota, A., Shrestha, R. K. and Chalise, D. (2017). Response of maize to the soil application of nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. 5(4): 537-541. DOI: 10.3126/ijasbt.v5i4.18777.
  23. Statistical Analysis System (SAS). (2008). SAS/STAT® 9.2 User’s Guide. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC., USA.
  24. Tuyishime, O. (2012). Effect of bio-slurry and inorganic-N fertilizers on soil properties and improvement of maize productivity in Musanze District, Rwanda. Thesis, Kenyatta University. 55 p.
  25. Verdoodt, A. and Van Ranst, E. (2003). Land Evaluation for Agricultural Production in the Tropics. A Large - Scale Land Suitability Classification for Rwanda. (G.U. Laboratory of Soil Science, Ed.). Ghent, Belgium.
  26. Wasonga, C.J., Sigunga, D.O. and Musandu, A.O. (2008). Phosphorus requirements by maize varieties in different soil types of Western Kenya. African Crop Science Journal. 16: 161-173.
  27. Yadav, O.P., Prasanna, B.M., Yadava, P., Jat, S.L., Kumar, D., Dhillon, B.S., Solanki, I.S. and Sandhu, J.S. (2016). Doubling maize (Zea mays L.) production of India by 2025-    Challenges and opportunities. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 86: 427-434.

Global Footprints