The effects of nitrogen levels on yield and yield parameters of sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata Sturt.) growing in Diyarbakır Districts of Turkey

Abstract

Nitrogen is a critical nutrient that is vital for enhancing plant growth and productivity. The influences of nitrogen (N) fertigation on yield, quality parameters, and nitrogen use efficiency of sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata Sturt.) under South Eastern Anatolia Region (Diyarbakır) conditions in Türkiye were investigated in that trial. Fertigation applications were executed under regional conditions in Diyarbakır during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons on the experimental land of GAPUTAEM (GAP International Agricultural Research and Training Center). The BATEM (Batı Akdeniz Agricultural Research Institute) Tatlı variety of sweet cornwas utilized as the plant material. Five different N applications (0-75-150-225-300 kg ha−1) were implemented on trial plots through a fertigation system. N levels implemented via the fertigation system had a significant effect on the days of tasselling, plant height, fresh husked ear yield (FHEY) and fresh unhusked ear yield (FUEY), chlorophyll rate, and nitrogen use efficiency (p≤0.01). Fresh husked (1918 kg ha-1) and unhusked (1342.50 kg ha-1) ear yields of sweet corn under the effect of 150 kg ha-1 nitrogen treatment were the highest. The maximum chlorophyll rate was (53.14%) recorded at 225 kg ha-1 N. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) increased with decreasing N supply, and the maximum NUE was observed from 75 kg ha-1 N application. The study findings indicate that the application of 150 kg N ha-1 using a fertigation method is important and environmentally conscious for the production of sweet corn.