Assessing the efficiency of different fertilizer type and levels on maize yield

Abstract

Many commercial compounds exist that promise the increasing efficiency of urea fertilizers by inhibiting urease activity in soils. Such a compound gaining in commercial importance in the last decades is N-(n-butyl) thiophosphorictriamide, broadly known with its registered trade name of “Agrotain”. In this study, the effect of nitrogen fertilizer dressings using Agrotain versus conventional (urea) fertilizers was studied under field conditions. In particular, the effect of three different nitrogen dressings using conventional N-fertilizers and Agrotain was investigated on the growth and final yield of maize cultivation at 2 different sites (Palamas and Velestino) and two years (2014 and 2015) in central Greece. Urease inhibitor ensures crops N-nutrition for longer period compared to conventional fertilizers. This results in better utilization of supplied nitrogen, achieving ultimately higher yields. It was demonstrated that crop fertilized with Agrotain obtained greater chlorophyll contents and reached significantly higher biomass and grain yields comparing to the treatments receiving traditional nitrogen fertilization, due to the more effective nitrogen release and uptake by the crops. The differences between the examined fertilizers are possibly due to smoother and stable N-nutrition and the higher photosynthesis rates. Therefore, application of urease inhibitor fertilizers, such as Agrotain, might reduce nitrogen application dressings, reduce N-losses and nitrification, and their introduction to existing crop rotations is highly advisable. © 2020, Agricultural Academy, Bulgaria. All rights reserved.