Effect of mineral fertilization with N, P, K and Si in a field experiment with maize on Haplic Vertisol

Lyuba Nenova

Abstract: Balanced mineral fertilization is a precondition for the optimal development of agricultural crops with a minimal negative effect on the environment. The present study aimed to determine the effect of fertilization with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and silicon (Si) on the yield and plant height of maize (Zea mays L.) in a field experiment on Haplic Vertisol. The height of plants was significantly influenced by the applied fertilization with the strongest data variation occurring in the 11-12th leaf phase when a total of seven homogeneous groups were formed. The greatest height of maize plants was observed in variants: V4 (N200P160K120Si14), V6 (N200P80K240Si28), and V8 (N200P160K240Si14) where the leading role of nitrogen (with the higher norm N200) was distinguished. The multifactorial analysis confirmed the impact of nitrogen, potassium, and silicon on the formed maize grain yield, with silicon contributing the most to the variance in the experiment – 24.18%, followed by potassium – 20.45% and nitrogen – 16.15%. The highest yields were reported in variants V6 (N200P80K240Si28) and V7 (N100P160K240Si28) – 11762.8 kg.ha-1 and 13042.3 kg.ha-1, respectively, with twice more an increase compared to the control.

Keywords: Haplic Vertisol; height; maize; nitrogen; phosphorus; potassium and silicon fertilizers; yield

Date published: 2023-08-24