Abstract:
In order to keep up with rapid growth in the world, more arable crops, notably crucial and key ones like maize, must be produced in large quantities. This study was conducted during the planting seasons of 2015/16 and 2016/17 to assess the effect of nitrogen fertilizer rates and plant density on the nutritional contents of Water Efficient Maize (WEMA) maize kernel. The experiment was set up as a split plot fitted into a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Plant density 33,333, 44,444, and 55,555 plants/ha was the main plot effect at each trial site, whereas nitrogen rates of 0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg N/ha made up the sub-plot. Oil, protein, starch, and ethanol production determined the nutritional qualities. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used with GenStat to analyze all of the collected data. The maize fertilized with 240 kg N/ha had the highest oil of 385 kg/ha and total protein of 599 kg/ha at Molelwane. The maize sown at 44,444 plants/ha produced the highest total starch of 3,234 kg/ha at Taung. The regression relationship between nitrogen fertilizer, plant density, and kernel nutritional composition was positive and significant. The grain yield was significantly and positively associated with the total protein r = 0.628 and starch r = 0.951. Therefore, starch production of WEMA maize should be cultivated at a plant density of 44,444 with the application of 240 kg N/ha.
Author(s): Abidemi Ruth Adebayo, ET Sebetha