Effects of methods and time of application of Zinc on maize (Zea mays L.) productivity in the southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) deficiency has started manifesting on some crops and in some soils in Nigeria, due to reduction in the length of fallow periods, continuous cropping and planting of high-nutrients demanding and high – yielding varieties of crops. In this study, field study was conducted during the 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria, to investigate the effects of application method of Zn on the growth and yields of maize. The treatments consisted of three rates of soil applied Zn (0, 2.5 and 5 kg Zn ha-1) at 2 weeks after sowing (WAS) and two rates of foliar applied Zn at 2.5 and 5 kg Zn ha-1 at 3 and 6 WAS. The experimental design was randomized complete block with three replications. The initial soil extractable Zn was high, resulting in lack of response to Zn fertilization by maize yields in 2014. Soil and foliar Zn application significantly improved the plant height of maize at 4 and 12 WAS only in both years. Maize stover and grain yields were increased by over 1 ton ha-1 in 2015. Grain yield in 2015 was significantly higher by 24 % over that of 2014. There was a build-up of soil extractable Zn by adequate fertilization with Zn fertilizers. It was concluded that Zn fertilization will not only increase yields of maize, but also build-up soil Zn to a concentration level that will forestall deficiency in the foreseeable future.