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Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research

Response of Corn (Zea mays L.) to Soil and Foliar Application of Zinc Fertilizer in Remaitab soil of Sudan Gezira

Abdalla E. Abbas, Muawia E. Hamad , Hashim M. Babiker and Abdellatif E. Nour

Abstract:

Experiments were conducted for two seasons 2000 and 2001 to evaluate the response of corn (Zea mays L.) to both soil and foliar application of zinc fertilizer. The fertilizer was added as zinc sulphate (Zn SO4.7H2O) on Remaitab soil series, (fine, smectitic, isohyperthermic, Typic Haplusterts) at the Gezira Research Station Farm, Wad Medani, Sudan. Zinc was applied at 0, 5 and 10 kg Zn ha--1, banded in the soil at sowing and at 150 g and 300 g Zn ha-1, as foliar application to the plant four weeks after sowing. Basal doses of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers at respective rates of 86 kg N ha-1 and 43 kg P2 O5 ha-1 were applied. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The soil is deficient in extractable soil Zn as was evident by the low grain yield and low Zn uptake values obtained at 0 kg Zn ha-1 treatment. The application of zinc by both methods significantly increased Zn content of leaf, grain uptake of Zn, yield components and the grain yield of corn. Soil application of 5 kg Zn ha-1 and 10 kg Zn ha-1and foliar application of 150g Zn ha-1 and 300g Zn ha-1 increased the grain yield by 60, 74, 34 and 41 % over no zinc, respectively. Zinc banded in the soil has superior effect over foliar application of zinc.





 

Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 11  (2008) PP. 45-51