Crop Science Management and Harvesting

Biography

Biography: Goshu Tolera Abera

Abstract

Maize is the most commonly and widely produced crop in southwestern and western Ethiopia but its productivity is negatively affected by low rate and time of nitrogen application but there is still inadequate research on this phenomenon in maize production. This in view different attempts have been made to solve the soil fertility problems for maize production using sensor-based, recommendation methods and rate of nitrogen management in southwestern and western Ethiopia. The objectives of this review were to summarize past nitrogen management efforts and recommend future research direction in nitrogen management for improved maize production. Mean grain yield of maize was significantly varied among farms and application of nitrogen fertilizer indicating wide range of management practices and production history at each maize farm which consequently affects response of on-farm nitrogen application. Significantly higher positive correlation coefficients of (r=0.67) and (r=70) were obtained between yield and Normalized Difference Vegetative Index reading at V8 stage of maize growth. Application of 50-100 kg N ha^-1 was more responsive to a vegetative growth and grain yield of quality protein maize. The N fertilizer application significantly increased grain yield of the all maize varieties. Application of half of the recommended N fertilizer provided 32 % fertilizer N use efficiency as compared to the full-recommended N fertilizer application. Higher dry biomass, grain yield, NDVI reading and harvest index of maize were obtained with the application of fertilizer rate using all the three different recommendation methods as compared to control. This result suggests further research works to make conclusive recommendation in determining in-season nitrogen fertilizer need for side dressing and continuous nitrogen management are a desirable option for improved maize production.