Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Maize Yield Response to Nitrogen Rate and Foliar Fertilizing

St. KALINOVA, S. KOSTADINOVA and A. HRISTOSKOV
Agricultural University, BG - 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Abstract

KALINOVA ST., S. KOSTADINOVA and A. HRISTOSKOV, 2014. Nitrogen use efficiency and maize yield response to nitrogen rate and foliar fertilizing. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 20: 178-181

 

Field experiment was conducted during 2009-2012 to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization and new foliar products on grain yields and nitrogen use efficiency in maize. Foliar fertilizer Cereal mix (ME) was jointly applied with biostimulant Amalgerol in doses 3 (A3), 4 (A4) and 5 (A5) L/ha. The experimental design consisted of a fully randomized block design in four replications. The studied treatments were: 1. Control (no-fertilizing); 2. N₂₀P₁₅K₁₅; 3. N₂₀P₁₅K₁₅+ME+A3; 4. N₂₀P₁₅K₁₅+ME+A4; 5. N₂₀P₁₅K₁₅+ME+A5; 6. N₃₀P₁₅K₁₅. Foliar products Cereal mix for maize and biostimulant Amalgerol demonstrated high efficiency under unfavorable climate conditions during maize vegetation. Integrated soil fertilization 200 kg N.ha^-1 and foliar top dressing (Cereal mix+Amalgerol) increased grain yield by 31% in average, compared with unfertilized plants. Applying rates N₂₀₀P₁₅₀K₁₅₀ combined with foliar products Cereal mix and Amalgerol significantly improved agronomic efficiency of nitrogen in comparison with soil fertilizing N₂₀₀P₁₅₀K₁₅₀ and N₃₀₀P₁₅₀K₁₅₀. Partial factor productivity of nitrogen decreased with increasing of N rate and did not depend on foliar fertilization.

Key words: maize, AE, PFP, foliar fertilizers
Abreviations: PFP_N – partial factor productivity; AE_N – agronomic efficiency of nitrogen

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