EFFECT OF FERTIGATION APPLIED NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS ON YIELD AND COMPOSITION OF MAIZE

Abstract

Fertigation and broadcast methods of application were compared for N and P fertilizers to maize in pot and field studies. In pot culture fertigation was better than broadcast at equivalent doses of P to increase plant dry matter and P uptake. Whereas fertigated N was not different than broadcast for these parameters. Lower dose of fertigated N and P produced comparable dry matter to higher dose of broadcast P. In the field experiment, maximum grain yield was obtained where N and P were applied by fertigation. The values for P uptake, P use efficiency (PUE), agronomic efficiency (AE) and value cost ratio (VCR) were higher in fertigation than broadcast method of application.