Maize Response to Mineral Fertilizers and Seaweed Extract for Growth and Yield-Related Traits

The presented maize experiment commenced in autumn 2022 at the Al-Hussainiya, Kerbala, Iraq.The experiment comprised two factors: the first included nitrogen (0, 150, and 300 kg N ha -1 ) and phosphorus (0, 50, and 100 kg P ha -1 ), and the second was the seaweed extract (2 and 4 ml L -1 ) used as a foliar application.The seaweed extracts (Algazone Mx30) were treatments applied in the main plots, while the subplots received mineral fertilizer combinations.A randomized complete block design (RCBD) consisted of a factorial arrangement and three replications to evaluate the maize cultivar 'Maha's' response in clay loam soil.In most growth and yield parameters, applying nitrogenphosphorous fertilizer combinations and the foliar application of seaweed extract (4 ml L -1 ) had a substantial effect.The interaction between the seaweed extract and nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers significantly improved leaf area, stem diameter, chlorophyll index in leaves, 500-grain weight, and biological and grain yields.The treatments with seaweed extract (4 ml L -1 ) and the combination of 150 N + 50 P performed better for leaf area (55.48 cm 2 plant -1 ), stem diameter (23.10 mm), chlorophyll index (48.54SPAD), 500-grain weight (141.17g), biological yield (357.56 g plant -1 ), and grain yield (201.46 g plant -1 ).