Effect of phosphorus and split nitrogen on corn (Zea mays l.)‎ production, nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation in Western Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

Field experiments were conducted during the spring and autumn of 1992 to determine the effects of phosphorus and split N application on com total biomass (TDM and TDW) and in its components, viz..

culm (CDW), leaves (LDW) and cobs (CBDW) accumulation of N and P.

A hybrid cultivar, "Giza 2” was sown under 4 levels of N (100, 150, 300 and 400 kg ha-1) split into four equal doses at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days from planting (dfp); and 2 lev- els of P (75 and 150 P2Os kg ha'1) applied at sowing.

Estimates of TDM and CDW at 30 and 45 dfp (both seasons) and at 60 dfp (spring season) were high- est (P < 0.01) at the N, level, indicating that split application of 225 kg N ha-1) in the spring and of 150 kg N ha'1 in (he autumn were adequate for achieving maximum biological and seed yields.

N and P uptake in the leaves, being high- est at 30 to 60 dfp, was also significantly increased by the split doses of N, (i.e.

75, 150 and 225 Kg N ha-1), depending on season, at the specified har- vesting dales.

Positive effects of P2 were limited to those on CDW at 30 dfp in the spring season and at 30 and 45 dfp in autumn.

Effects of P2 on CBDW and TDW at 90 dfp in the autumn season were also significant but negative.

Positive cffects of (P < 0.05) of P2 on N content were only recorded for leaves at 45 dfp in the autumn; whereas those on P uptake were limited for leaves at 30 and 75 dfp in the spring season.