Effects of Integrated Use of Lime and Nitrogen Fertilizer on Yield and Yield Components of Maize (Zea mays l.) at Nitisols of Burie Area, Northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil acidity coupled with soil nutrient depletion negatively affect the performance and yield of maize in the Amhara National Regional State Ethiopia. This study was carried out at Burie district in one cropping season to determine the effect of integrated use of lime and urea fertilizer rate on yield and yield components of Maize. The treatments include lime (0 and 0.5 t ha-1) and nitrogen (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 kg ha-1). The maize variety BH-661 was used as a test crop. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with ten treatments replicated three times. Yield and yield components of maize were collected and analyzed. The analysis of variance result revealed that, interaction effect of lime and N fertilizer reduced the tassling period (88 days in the application of 0.5 t ha-1 lime with 100 kg ha-1 N to 85 days in the application of 0.5 t ha-1 lime with 400 kg ha-1 N) and silking period from 91 days to 88 days. Grain yield was highly and positively correlated with AGDB (r=0.996) and HI (r=0.987). But GY was highly and negatively correlated with DT (r=0.957) and DS (r=-0.925). Grain yield of maize was positively and significantly correlated with yield components. The maximum AUE (3.76%) was recorded from T10 than T7 of (3.16%). Based on economic analysis the optimum rate of lime and N fertilizer was obtained 0.5 t ha-1 lime and 300 kg ha-1 nitrogen fertilizer. So, combined application of 0.5 t ha-1 lime and 300 kg ha-1 Nitrogen is economically reasonable and recommended to the farmers.