INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN SOURCES ON GROWTH, YIELD, SOME MACRO AND MICRONUTRIENTS CONTENT OF MAIZE PLANT (Zea mays, L.) IN SALT AFFECTED SOILS

Two field experiments were conducted at the Experimental Station of
Agricultural Research Station at Tag EI·Ezz Dakahlia Governorate during 2000 and
2001 seasons. The used soil was salt affected one. The research aims to study the
effect of N-NO'3, N-NH+₄ or N-urea on yield and some characters of maize plant as
well as macro-micronutrients content in ear leaves at maturity stage (physiological
stage) and seeds. Single hybrid CS 10 of maize was used as testing plant within two
seasons (2000 and 2001) and the soil salinity levels were 1.69, 5.3 and 11.10 dS/m in
2000, and 1.69, 5.43 and 11.10 ds/m in 2001 season, denoted as S" S2 and S3.
The data show that, plant heighUcm. ear bladel cm², ear diameterl cm, ear
weighU gm, 100 grain weighUgm and yield (ardab/fed.) were reduced significantly in
third level of salinity while ear length (cm) was not affected and order was S2 > S, >S3.
There is no significant effect of N-sources on parameters under study except
ear diameter/cm and 100 grain weight 10m which were affected significantly.
Ammonium nitrate fertilizer gave the greater values than urea and
ammonium sulphate. But the interaction effect between salinity levels and N-sources
gave a significant differences at all studying characters. Yield was ex1remely reduced
by 52.4% with increasing in salinity levels calculated the differences between the
highest and the lowest values (mean for each salinity level).
It was found that, P% in leaves increased Significantly with soil progress in soil salinity
in both seasons. But K% increased significantly in 2001 season, while, N% decreased
significantly at 2000 season. The concentration (ppm) of Zn, Fe and Mn were
increased significantly with increasing the soil salinity levels.
Urea gave the highest values for Nand P concentrations in leaves, where Ihe effect
was a highly significant in both seasons, while ammonium nitrate gave highly
Significant for K In 2000 season only. No Significant effect was found for N-sources on
Zn (ppm) in leaves in both seasons. while Mn and Fe were affected significantly. Also,
it was found that ammonium nitrate gave the highest values for Mn in both seasons
and Fe in 2001 season only. The study also showed that the interactions between
salinity and N-source on N concentration in leaves were reduced significantly in 2000
season but K, P, Mn, In and Fe were increased significantly in both seasons.
Data show that N, P, K and Fe concentrations in seeds were increased significantly in
third levels of soil salinity in most seasons whereas Mn and Zn insignificantly
increased. The data revealed that. ammonium nitrate fertilizer gave the greatest value
for N, P and K percentage in seeds, but urea fertilizer gave the greatest values for Mn,
Zn and Fe concentrations in seeds in both seasons. The data showed that, the
differences between N-sources and nutrient elements were significant except In.
The interaction effect between salinity and N-source in N% and Fe (ppm) in seeds
were increased significantly as salinity increased in both seasons.
It can be conclude, from this study and data discussion that, soil salinity and
fertilizers have confounding effects on plant characters and nutrient status of maize
crop. Therefor it needs more research to clarifying these points in field (soil-salt
system).