Evaluating the Effect of N, P, K, S, Zn and B Fertilization on Growth, Yield and Yield Components of Maize (Zea mays L.) - A Review of Literatures

Abstract

The presence of low soil fertility and poor plant nutrition does not only affect crop yields but also crop quality. This situation is happened whenever the soil is unable to satisfy the nutrient demand of a given crop and absence of documented information for each nutrients with their corresponding response on crop production. A review of many refereed published journal articles and books sourced from internet and libraries was conducted with the objective of highlighting the effects of nutrients on maize crop production and quality. More emphasis was focused on illustrating the functions through which various nutrient elements influence biochemical processes and eventually affect the overall quality of maize crops and their products. As a result nutrients reviewed in this paper included are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, zinc and boron which show better response for maize. To optimize the nutrient demand of maize a number of research activities on mineral fertilizers have been emphasized. Accordingly, significant responses were observed at average of 100-200 kg ha^-1 N, 40-80 kg ha^-1 P, 40-60 kg ha^-1 K, 20-40 kg ha^-1 S, 2-5 kg ha^-1 Zn and 2.5 kg ha^-1 B for maize production. The crop parameters mostly affected by plant nutrition include: growth parameters, yield and yield-contributing characters with their response of each nutrients on maize are reviewed. It has noted that crop quality also greatly influenced by the synergistic and antagonistic interactions in various nutrients uptake and utilization. Therefore, balanced nutrition is noted to be of paramount importance not only boosting yield but also to maintain sustainability of soil health. To do so, it can concluded that identifying the contribution of each nutrient is a very important area to consider advancing and putting up resources for research since it has a huge bearing on human health and socioeconomic effect on farmers’ incomes.

Keywords: Maize, Essential elements.

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-20-01

Publication date:October 31^st 2021