Optimum rate of nitrogen fertilization for drip irrigated maize under semi-arid conditions

Hegab, S. A.; Eissa, M. A.; Darwish, M. M. B.; Rekaby, S. A.

doi:10.21608/aasj.2018.25538

Optimum rate of nitrogen fertilization for drip irrigated maize under semi-arid conditions

Document Type : Research article

Authors

¹ Department of Soils and Water, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, 71524 Assiut, Egypt

² Department of Soils and Water, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, 71524 Assiut, Egypt

³ Maize Research Department, Field Crops Research Institute,Giza, Egypt

10.21608/aasj.2018.25538

Abstract

Water and nitrogen are major limiting factors for crop growth and development in arid regions. A field experiments were carried out at the semi-arid region of Upper Egypt, Assuit governorate during 2014 and 2015 growing seasons. The experiments were conducted to investigate the response of drip irrigated maize to three levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization (N₂₂₀=220, N₂₉₀=290, and N₃₆₀=360 kg ha⁻¹). The measured growth parameters of maize were significantly higher when N was applied at a rate of 360 kg per hectare compared to other N rates (220 and 290 kg ha⁻¹). The highest N supply (N₃₆₀) increased the uptake of N, P, and K by 43, 41, and 53%, respectively, as compared to the lowest rate (N₂₂₀). N360 increased maize grain yield by 56 and 62% in the first and second season, respectively, as compared to N₂₂₀. N₃₆₀ increased the water use efficiency (WUE) by 54 and 40% in the first and second season, respectively, compared to N₂₂₀. Based on the obtained results, it is recommended to fertilize drip irrigated maize by ₃₆₀ kg per hectare.

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