EFFECT OF TILLAGE AND FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON GROWTH OF CONVENTIONAL AND HYBRID MAIZE

Abstract

The growing importance of maize has motivated researchers to focus on optimizing production technologies, such as tillage and fertilizer usage. To this end, a study was conducted in RCBD design using three tillage systems, namely deep tillage, traditional tillage, and minimum tillage, and two fertilizer levels (recommended and 50% increase over recommended NPK) on non-Hybrid C- 20 and Hybrid FHY-399 varieties. Growth parameters were documented at maturity. The data showed that tillage methods had a major impact on plant growth and yield parameters, with the exception of number of cobs per plant, which was non-significant with maximum values in deep tillage. Fertilizer had a major impact on growth parameters, with the greatest effect occurring when the NPK fertilizer level was increased by 50% above the recommended level. The interaction between tillage methods and fertilizer levels was found to be statistically insignificant for maize growth except at 1000 grains per acre. The treatment combination of deep tillage + 50% increase over recommended NPK fertilizer level yielded the highest value of 1000-grain weight. Based on the findings, it is proposed that additional research be performed with no fertilizer, and a rate of fertilizer twice the recommended rate.