Article abstract

Journal of Agricultural and Crop Research

Research Article | Published December 2021 | Volume 9, Issue 12. pp. 268-275.

doi: https://doi.org/10.33495/jacr_v9i12.21.162

 

Maize (Zea mays L.) agro-physiological response to varying nitrogen regime in Botswana

 



 

 

P. K. Mashiqa1*

O. G. Moatshe-Mashiqa1

K. Safi1

O. Molosiwa2

 

Email Author


 

1. Department of Agricultural Research, Private Bag 0033, Gaborone, Botswaa.

2. National Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Private Bag 00177, Gaborone, Botswana.


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Citation: Mashiqa PK, Moatshe-Mashiqa OG, Safi K, Molosiwa O  (2021). Maize (Zea mays L.) agro-physiological response to varying nitrogen regime in Botswana. J. Agric. Crop Res. 9(12):268-275. doi: 10.33495/jacr_v9i12.21.162.

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 Abstract 


A field experiment was conducted at the Department of Agricultural Research site in Sebele during 2018 and was repeated in 2019, with the aim of determining the response of maize yield and yield components to varying nitrogen regimes. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications, and a plot size of 3 m × 3 m. The main plot comprised of two maize varieties KEP and BWM523 while sub-plots were four levels of nitrogen (0, 125, 200 and 300 kg/ha). Inter row spacing was 30 cm and inter-row spacing was 75 cm and with 4 rows in each plot. The results of this investigation revealed that nitrogen significantly affected most yield and yield components of maize varieties. Applying the nitrogen at the rate of 200 kg/ha significantly increased the number of grain per ear, biomass, one thousand grain mass, harvest index and grain yield of maize over the other rates. Grain yield increased up to 3320.75 kg/ha and 3291 kg/ha at 200 kg/ha of nitrogen for 2018 and 2019 respectively, thereafter reduced when more nitrogen was added. At the 200 kg/ha nitrogen treatment, the grain yield was increased by 37.60 and 39.13% for 2018 and 2019, respectively. The addition of nitrogen significantly increased some physiological attributes of maize varieties. Consistently nitrogen applied at 200 kg/ha increased the photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and flag leaf area of the maize varieties over other rates. Genotype BWM523 performed better than genotype KEP in most attributes measured.

Keywords  Maize   nitrogen rate   stomatal conductance   leaf photosynthesis rate   grain yield  

 

 

Copyright © 2021 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.or(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

 

 

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