Limiting Factors of Agronomic Characteristics for Maize Through Nutrient Omission Techniques

The deficiency of primary macronutrients can inhibit the vegetative growth of the plants. The study aimed to obtain the influence of nutrient omission techniques fertilization (NOTF) on the agronomic characteristics, nutrient uptake and to determine the growth limiting factors for maize. This research was located on the farmer field in Padang Bulan, Medan Baru, North Sumatra, Indonesia, from December 2020 to March 2021. This research was applied the Randomized Block Design within the single factor through NOTF that has been converted (urea: superphosphate: KCl = 0.15: 0.10: 0.025 g kg -1 ). The treatment using F0 = control; F1 = N + P + K; F2 = P + K; F3 = N + K; F4 = N + P within three replications. The parameters were processed using ANOVA and continued by a Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at P < 0.05. The F1–F4 treatments significantly increased plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, fresh weight of root and shoot, and dry weight of root and shoot for maize. It was found in the highest plant height, the number of leaves, and the dry weight of root at the N + P fertilization. However, the N + P + K fertilization increased leaf area, fresh weight, and dry weight of shoot. It showed the highest concentration and uptake nutrient of total-N, total-P, and total-K. The novelty of this study found the limiting factor that inhibited the maize growth was the non-fertilization of nitrogen.