Abstract:
An experiment was conducted at the agronomy field laboratory of Shcr-e-Bangla
Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangia Nagor, Dhaka. during the period from March to
June 2006 to study the elThct of manuring and split application of nitrogen on grain yield
and quality of maize cv. F3arnali. There were four nianunal doses, namely. M
1 -
Inorganic Fertilizer (IF) only. M
2
- IF + cow-dung 5 t ha NI
)
- IF + cow-dung lOt ha'
and M4 - IF + cow-dung 15 t ha and two split applications of nitrogen. viz. SP
1 -2 splits
and SP:-3 splits. Manuring was placed in main plot and split application of nitrogen in
subplot each measuring Sm X 3m In a split plot design used with three replications. Four
nutrients were applied which were N, P
205
, 1(20 and Sat the rate of 115 -72 - 60 - 22.32
kg ha1
and three nutrients were supplied in the form of Urea, TSP, MP and Gypsum
respectively In SP
1
basal dose of urea was applied at final land preparation, and
split
at 25 and
split at 45 days of sowing. In SP
2
basal dose urea was applied at final land
preparation, and 3 splits respectively at 25. 45 and 65 days of sowing. Inorganic
fertilizers ± cow-dung 15 t ha
1
(M4
treatment) gave the best response for all the
parameters, whereas inorganic fertilizer (IF) only (M
1
treatment) gave the poorest
response. Grain and stalk yields ranged respectively from 5.43 to 9.02 t ha
4
and from
6.76 to 12.16 t ha" due to different manuring treatments. The highest grain yield was
obtained from M4
treatment, identically followed by M.; treatment, Grain protein content
10.6 was from M1
treatment and 13.16 from M., treatment, the latter being identically
followed by M, and M2
treatments: Grain N and protein contents were nearly 2 times
higher than those in stalk. Three split applications of N gave higher grain yield and
tended to increase nutrient content of grain and stalk over 2 split applications of nitrogen.
Results of the present study showed that application of cow-dung at the rate of 10 and IS
ha' together with recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers improved grain yield and
quality over inorganic fertilizers alone and 3 split applications of nitrogen increased grain
yield and tended to improve grain quality of maize over 2 split applications of nitrogen.