Response of maize (Zea mays L.) to the soil application of phosphorus fertilizer

Abstract

To investigate the effect of different phosphorus levels on the yield and yield components of maize crop, the experiment was carried out in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan and was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications having a plot size of 2 m x 3 m (6m2) with row-to-row distance of 0.75 m and plant to plant distance of 0.25 m. The levels of phosphorus were 0 (control), 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240 kg P2O5 ha-1. Results indicated that the different levels of phosphorus significantly affected maize plant height, leaf area index, No. of cobs/plant, Cob length (cm), No. of Grains/cob, No. of Rows/cob, 100 grain weight (gr), seed yield and Stover yield. Application of Phosphorus at the rate of 160 kg ha-1 resulted in maximum plant height (181.02 cm), leaf area index (2.30), No. of cobs/plant (2.20), Cob length (18.63cm), No. of Grains/cob (347.33), No. of Rows/cob (17.67), 100-grain weight (20.33gr), seed yield 4882 kg/ha and Stover yield 6943 kg/ha as compared to the minimum values in control plots. It is concluded that Phosphorus should applied at the rate of 160 kg P2O5 ha-1 for the best grain yield in the agro-ecological conditions in Badakhshan province.