Influence of Chemical and Biological Fertilizers on Agro-Physiological Characteristics of Corn (Zea mays L., S.C. 703)

Abstract

In order to investigate the effect of sugarcane compost on consumption of nitrogenous fertilizers in corn fields, a research project was conducted according split plot experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications along 2015 year. The main plot included different chemical nitrogenous fertilizer (Zero; control, 60 and 120 kg.ha^-1 pure nitrogen from urea source). Biological nitrogenous fertilizers in three levels (Azotobacter, Nitrokara and non-application of biofertilizer) belonged to sub plots. The results of analysis of variance revealed that the effect of different levels of nitrogenous chemical fertilizer on plant height, leaf area index and total dry matter were significant at 1% probability level. But the differences were not significant for crop growth rate and net assimilation rate. The effect of different levels of biological nitrogenous fertilizers in all traits was significant at 1% probability level. The interaction effect of treatments on leaf area index at the stage of silk emergence was only significant at 5% probability level and was not significant difference for other traits. According the mean comparison result of chemical fertilizer the maximum and minimum values of the studied traits were observed in terms of consumption of 120 kg.ha^-1 of urea and non-application of chemical fertilizer (control). Among different levels of biological fertilizer, the maximum and minimum amount were observed in traits of application of Nitrokara and without biological fertilizer treatment. In general, the results of the current experiment indicated that the use of chemical nitrogenous fertilizer and biological fertilizers in field with sugarcane compost had a positive effect on all studied traits and the best situation was obtained in 120 kg.ha^-1 through chemical fertilizer and simultaneous use of Nitrokara fertilizers which could be of interest to researchers and farmers.