Response of maize to zinc fertilization in Minna, Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) is an essential mineral nutrient for plant and human growth, such that dietary Zn deficiency has become a worldwide nutritional problem. A field study was conducted during the 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University of Technology, Minna to investigate the response of maize to Zn fertilization in Minna. The treatments were soil application of Zn at 0, 2.5, 5 kg ha-1 at 2 weeks after sowing (WAS), foliar application of Zn at 2.5 and 5 kg ha-1 at 3 and 6 WAS, arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results indicated that application of Zn significantly (p<0.05) increased maize growth at 12 WAS and yield in both years. Foliar spray of 5 kg Zn ha-1 at 3 WAS in 2014 and soil application of 5 kg Zn ha-1 in 2015, significantly (p<0,05) increased plant height compared to foliar spray and soil application at 2.5 kg Zn ha-1, respectively. Stover and grain yields were significantly (p<0.05) increased by either soil or foliar application of 2.5 – 5 kg Zn ha-1 compared to the control treatment. Zinc concentration in maize grain was significantly (p<0.05) increased with foliar spray of 5 kg Zn ha-1 in comparison with other treatments in 2014, and foliar spray of 5 kg Zn ha-1 at 3 WAS compared to the control only in 2015. Foliar application of 5 kg Zn ha-1 was most effective in enhancing grain Zn concentration by 65.1 – 71.4 % and is hereby recommended to farmers in this agro-ecology of Nigeria.