RESPONSE OF NITROGEN EFFICIENCY BIO-AVAILABILITY (NEB) ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF MAIZE

Abstract

Production of maximum quantity and good quality maize grain are the main bottleneck in Bangladesh, due to its sub-optimal management strategies aside of inorganic environment. From this perspective a field experiment was carried out at the research field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during November, 2015 to April, 2016 to find out the response of nitrogen efficiency bioavailability

(NEB) on growth, yield and quality of maize (Zea mays L. cv. ACI Hybrid DON 111). The experiment consisted of eight different combinations of NEB with inorganic fertilizers namely, T = 50% recommended urea (RU) + 500 ml NEB ha -1 along with other fertilizers, T 2 1 = 50% RU + 750 ml NEB ha -1 along with other fertilizers, T 3 = 50% RU + 1000 ml NEB ha -1 along with other fertilizers, T = 50% RU + 1250 ml NEB ha -1 along with other fertilizers, T = 50% RU and 25% reduction of P, K, S + 750 ml NEB ha -1 , T 6 5 = 50% RU and 25% reduction of P, K, S + 1000 ml NEB ha -1 , T 7 = 50% RU and 25% reduction of P, K, S + 1250 ml NEB ha = 100% recommended chemical fertilizer fertilizer (255-55-140-40-2-6 kg ha of N-P-K-SB-Zn). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with

three replications. Results demonstrated that NEB in combination with chemical fertilizers had significant effects on most of the growth, yield and quality contributing parameters studied in this experiment. Among the eight treatments, the combination of NEB at the rate of 1250 mL ha -1 and 50% recommended urea along with other fertilizers at conventional rate showed better performance on number of cobs plant , number of rows cob -1 , shelling (%), grain yield, seed grading, germination (%) and also on popping recovery (%) of maize which was statistically similar to the combination of NEB at the rate of 1000 mL ha -1 and 50% recommended urea along with other fertilizers at conventional rate. On the other hand; days to tassel initiation and full tassel emergence, days to silk initiation showed the delayed performance when the crop was managed by T (100% recommended chemical fertilizers). The maximum yield of maize was found from T 8 4 (13.51 t ha -1 ) which was statistically similar to T 3 (12.61 t ha -1 ) where as the application of 100% recommended chemical fertilizers exhibited the worst one (4.10 t ha -1 ) for grain yield of maize. From this study, it may be concluded that NEB had significant positive response for the improving of grain yield and quality of maize when applied at the rate of 50% urea and 1000 ml of NEB per hectare. Finally, NEB may put remarkable contribution for improving the quantity and quality of maize grain by reducing the application of chemical fertilizers.