Yield And Yield Components Of Maizerice Mixture As Influenced By Nitrogen And Phosphorus Fertilization.

A field experiment was conducted at Samaru farm of theInstitute for Agricultural Research in 1990 and 1992 wetseasons with the objective of studying the effect of N and Pon the yield and yield components of maize and rice undermixed cropping.Factorial combinations of four levels of N (0, 60,120 and180kgN/ha) and three levels of P (0, 13.2 and 26.4kgP/ha)were laid out in a randomised complete block design with fourreplications.The results revealed that the grain yield of maize andrice were significantly influenced by N and P. In 1990, maizegrain yield increased significantly upto 13.2kgP/ha at0 and 60kgN/ha. There was no effect of P at 120 and 180kgN/ha.For rice, grain yield at 0 and 60kgN/ha was not influenced byP whereas, application of 26.4kgP/ha significantly increasedgrain yield at 120 and l80kgN/ha. In 1992 application of13.2kgP/ha at each level of N significantly increased maizeand rice grain yields. The highest grain yields were obtainedat 120kgN/ha with 13.2kgP/ha suggesting that this fertilizerrate could be recommended for the mixture.Yield components of maize such as cobs per square metreincreased significantly with levels of N and P but there were;no signifleant changes in shelling percentage and hundredgrain weight of maize. The number of panicles per squaremetre, number of tillers per plant and number of filled grainspor panicle were the yield components of rice that responded toIncreased N and P. While threshing percentage and thousandgrain weight were not affected. Other plant characters ofboth crops which were positively influenced by N and P wereLAI, plant height and plant dry matter.There was highly significant and positive correlationbetween maize grain yield and yield component such ascobs per square metre (r = 0.586, r = 0.558) in 1990 and1992 respectively. In rice however, grain yield was foundto be significantly and positively associated withcomponents of yield such as panicles per square metre(r= 0.915, r = 0.910) and number of tillers per plant(r = 0.851, r = O.850) in 1990 and 1992 respectively.Percent crude protein in plant leaves at maturityincreased with the application of N alone but not with P.While percent P in leaves was significantly increased withboth N and P.Percent N in the soil at Crop maturity increasedsignificantly with N upto 180kgN/ha but was not affectedby P. Similarly P content in soil was significantly andpositively influenced by P but not with N application.

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