Growth, phenology and yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) affected by nitrogen fertilizer rate and its time of application at Hadero Tunto District, Kambata Tambaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the world’s leading crops ranked in the third position in the world cereal crop production after wheat and rice. It is a multipurpose traditional crop generally grown for food, feed and fodder. The study was conducted in Hadero Tunto District, Kambata Tambaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia during the main cropping season of 2019 with the aimed to investigate optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate and its time of application to increase productivity of maize crop. Soil fertility depletion and poor nutrient management are the major factors contributing to low productivity of the crop. The treatments consisted of two factors, namely, four levels of nitrogen rates and five different application times. The experiment was laid in randomized complete block design (RCBD) in factorial arrangements with three replications. The analysis of variance showed that the maximum grain yield (6.417 t/ha) was obtained with the highest nitrogen fertilizer rate (200kg/ha) which applied 1/3 at planting + 2/3 at knee height time. While the least value (4.413 t/ha) was recorded in plots which receive (50kg/ha) which applied 1/3 at planting + 2/3 at near tasseling time. Like grain yield, total biomass yield of maize also increased linearly with increased in nitrogen fertilizer rates. Thus, the results suggested that use of 200kg N/ha which applied 1/3 at planting + 2/3 at knee height time was increased the yield of maize in the study area. publiahed by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES