Artigo Acesso aberto Revisado por pares

Secondary and micronutrient inclusion in fertilizer formulation impact on maize growth and yield across northern Ghana

2019; Cogent OA; Volume: 5; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/23311932.2019.1700030

ISSN

2331-1932

Autores

Joseph Xorse Kugbe, R. Kombat, Williams K. Atakora,

Tópico(s)

Crop Yield and Soil Fertility

Resumo

Though secondary and micronutrients are known to improve crop production, their inclusion in fertilizer formulation has received minimum attention in efforts aimed at increasing maize production in northern Ghana. In this study, Sulphur, Boron, and Zinc were included in NPK formulations at different rates in northern Ghana. The experiment was a single factor, consisting of NPK 15-15-15 applied at rates (kg/ha) of 60-40-40, NPK 15-15-15 at rates of 90-60-60, NPK 15-15-15 at 100-40-40, NPK 11-22-21 + 5S+1B+1Zn at 60-40-38 + 9 + 1.8 + 1.8, NPK 11-22-21 + 5S + 1B + 1Zn at 90-60-57 + 14 + 2.7 + 2.7, NPK 11–22 21 + 5S+1B+1Zn at 100-40-38 + 9 + 1.8 + 1.8, NPS 14-31-0 + 9S + 1B + 1Zn at 60-40-0 + 11.6 + 1.3 + 1.3, NPS 14-31-0 + 9S + 1B + 1Zn at 90-60-0 + 17.4 + 1.9 + 1.9, NPS 14-31-0 + 9S + 1B + 1Zn at 100-40-0 + 11.6 + 1.3 + 1.3 and no fertilization. Treatments were randomly laid out in four farms. Urea at respective rates was applied at 6 weeks after planting. Data analyzed on growth and yield parameters at 5% probability showed that significantly higher growth and yield were recorded with the inclusion of secondary and micronutrients (P < 0.05). NPK 11-22-21 + 5S + 1B + 1Zn at 90-60-57 + 14 + 2.7 + 2.7 increased yield by 30% (mean: 3330 kg/ha) compared to the standard yield from NPK 15-15-15 at 90-60-60 (mean: 2585 kg/ha) which consisted solely of primary nutrients. Also, NPS 14-31-0 + 9S + 1B + 1Zn at 100-40-0 + 11.6 + 1.3 + 1.3 followed with yield increment of 26% (mean: 3252 kg/ha), with the zero-control treatment giving the lowest yield (mean: 356 kg/ha). While the study confirms the need for use of fertilizer in maize production across northern Ghana it demonstrates the need for secondary and micronutrient inclusion in fertilizer blends for soils of Northern Ghana.

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