Publication Type
Journal Article
Publication Date (Issue Year)
2021
Journal Name
African Journal of Biotechnology
Abstract
The effect of foliar application of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) fertilizers on nutritional status and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) were investigated through a study conducted in a zonal agricultural research station of University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Bengaluru (India). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design. The treatments consisted of two levels of soil application (75 and 100%) of recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) and foliar applications of NPK (19:19:19). The fertilizers were applied at 6-leaf, tasselling, knee height and tasseling growth stages. Nutrient uptake, protein content and available soil nutrients at harvest were analyzed. Results indicated that soil application of 100% RDF along with foliar sprays of NPK at knee height and tasselling stages significantly produced the highest levels of N, P and K uptake (306.60, 100.57 and 216.24 kg ha-1 , respectively) and maximum protein content (11.5%). Use of this fertilizer treatment also resulted into highest available soil N (273.74 kg ha-1 ), P (59.45 kg ha-1 ) and K (204.88 kg ha-1 ). The combined soil application of 100% RDF and foliar application of NPK at knee height and tasseling stages has potential to increase nutrient supply and protein content of the maize crop.
Keywords
Maize, foliar application, NPK, nutrient-uptake, protein content
Rsif Scholar Name
Drocelle Nirere
Thematic Area
Food security and Agribusiness
Africa Host University (AHU)
Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Tanzania
Funding Statement
The authors thank the government of India for its financial facilities through Indian Council of Culture Relation and Department of Agronomy, University of Agricultural Sciences GKVK, and Bengaluru for providing all possible research facilities for both field experiments and laboratory analyses.
Recommended Citation
Nirere, D., Mbaraka, S., Murorunkwere, F., Musana, F., & Rukangantambara, H. (2021). Effect of foliar application of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizers on nutrient uptake and protein content of maize. African Journal of Biotechnology, 20 (12), 465-469. https://doi.org/10.5897/ajb2021.17383