Response of Maize (Zea mays L.) to Different Rates of Npk and Urea Briquette Fertilizers.

Abstract

A multi-locational experiment was conducted at Amantin and Nsapor during the major rainy season from April to August 2022 to evaluate the effect of NPK fertilisers, in granule and briquette forms on the growth and yield of maize. A Randomised Complete Block Design with 7 treatments and replicated four times was used for the study. The treatments were; T1- (No fertilizer), T2 - Granule NPK & Urea (120-40-40) 200 kg/ha, T3 - Briquette NPK & Urea (121-58.7-59) 230.4 kg/ha, T4 - Briquette NPK & Urea (114-44-44) 172.8 kg/ha, T5 - Briquette NPK & Urea (91-59-59) 230.4 kg/ha, T6 - Briquette NPK & Urea (76-29-29) 115.2 kg/ha and T7 - Briquette NPK & Urea (31-29-29) 115.2 kg/ha. The results showed that the treatments applied had no significant effect on the soil chemical properties (pH, available P, N, and exchangeable acidity and bases). The briquetted and granular NPK fertilisers had no significant effect on number of days to 50% emergence and 50% tasselling as well as days to 50% silking. Briquette NPK & Urea (121-58.7-59) 230.4 kg/ha generally outperformed the Granule NPK & Urea (120-40-40) 200 kg/ha and control with regards to number of leaves, leaf chlorophyll content, and leaf area across both locations. Briquette NPK & Urea (121-58.7-59) 230.4 kg/ha recorded significantly taller plants and internode length than Briquette NPK & Urea (114-44-44) 172.8 kg/ha. Briquette NPK & Urea (76-29-29) 115.2 kg/ha produced cobs with wider cob diameter than the control across both locations. Briquette NPK & Urea (114-44-44) 172.8 kg/ha and Briquette NPK & Urea (76-29-29) 115.2 kg/ha recorded significantly higher grain weight than the control in Amantin and Nsapor, respectively and hence recommended for maize production.