GROWTH OF RAINFED FODDER MAIZE UNDER DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS
Safdar Ali, Sahiba, M. Azim Malik, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan and M. Ansar*
ABSTRACT
Maize fodder yield was determined under various nitrogen and phosphorus doses under sub-humid rainfed conditions during 2009 at PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The annual rainfall at the experimental site during 2009 was 685.9 mm. The -1 experimental soil was of loamy texture having E.C. of 0.48 dscm , pH 7.7, -1 organic matter 0.65%, saturation 30%, available phosphorus 5.7 mg kg -1 and available potassium 78 mg kg . Maize cv. Sargodha-2002 was sown in randomized complete block design (factorial) and was fertilized with four -1 each nitrogen @ 0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha and phosphorus 0, 30, 60 and 90 -1 kg ha doses. Significant increase in green fodder and dry matter yield was observed with the increased doses of nitrogen and phosphorus. Overall, the -1 nitrogen application @ 180 kg ha increased the green fodder and dry matter yield by 12.33% and 51.50%, respectively. Similarly, with -1 phosphorus application @ 90 kg ha , the 36.80% and 46.26% increase was observed in green fodder and dry matter yield, respectively. In combination -1 of nitrogen and phosphorus @ 180:90 NP kg ha , there was a significant increase in green fodder and dry matter yields through their interactive effect, that were 90.19% and 159.31%, respectively. This increase may be due to increase in vegetative growth parameters like plant height, stem diameter and leaf area. It was concluded that fertilizers combination of -1 180:90 NP kg ha was recommended for obtaining higher maize fodder yield under rainfed conditions of Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
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