Effect of Blended NPS Fertilizer Rates and Intra-row Spacing on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) in East Showa Zone, Oromia Regional, Ethiopia

Abstract

Maize is one of most important food crop grown in Ethiopia and is produced in different
agro-ecologies in the country. However, its productivity is constrained by a number of
problems out of which is inappropriate fertilizers applications and undetermined planting
space utilization. Therefore, the field experiment was conducted at Melkassa Agricultural
Research Center in East Showa Zone, Oromia Regional State with the aim of identifying
the effect of blended NPS fertilizer rates and intra-row spacing on growth and yields of
maize during 2019 cropping season. The experiment was arranged in a factorial
combination of five rates of blended NPS fertilizer (0, 75, 150, 225, 300 kg ha-1) and three
intra row spacing (15, 25, 35cm) in a randomized complete block design in three
replications. The result revealed that leaf width and grain yield was significantly (p<0.05)
influenced by the interaction of NPS rates and plant spacing. The results showed that the
above ground biomass and cob weight significantly affected by the main effect of spacing;
while, cob length, stem diameter and leaf length were significantly influenced by both
main effect of NPS fertilizer rates and plant spacing. Highest (13.67kg) above ground dry
matter was recorded from the application of 300 kg NPS ha-1 at 35cm intra row spacing;
while, the lowest (7.33 kg) was obtained from the control at 15 cm intra row spacing. Also
highest grain yield (7400 kgha-1) was obtained from 300 kg NPS ha-1 applied at 15cm
intra-row spacing and lowest (3833.30 kg ha-1) from control at 35cm intra-row spacing.
The highest (17.07%) and lowest (13.93%) moisture contents were obtained from control
at 35cm and 15cm intra-row spacing, respectively. Thus, it can be concluded that
application of 300 kg NPS ha-1 at 15cm intra-row spacing was better for maize growth
and yields under rain-fed cropping system in the study area. However, to give concrete recommendation similar experiments should be done to confirm the obtained results
across locations and years in the same cropping system and the like.