Nitrogen Responsiveness of Maize Hybrids Under Dryland Conditions

Violeta Mandić (), Vesna Krnjaja, Zdenka Girek, Milan Brankov, Nenad Mićić, Miloš Marinković and Aleksandar Simić
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Violeta Mandić: Institute for Animal Husbandry, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Vesna Krnjaja: Institute for Animal Husbandry, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Zdenka Girek: Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Milan Brankov: Maize Research Institute “Zemun Polje”, Zemun, 11185 Belgrade, Serbia
Nenad Mićić: Institute for Animal Husbandry, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Miloš Marinković: Institute for Animal Husbandry, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Aleksandar Simić: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 13, 1-15

Abstract: Nitrogen (N) plays a decisive role in the growth and yield of crops. Hence, a high maize grain yield depends upon substantial N inputs. In the present study, morphological traits and yield components, grain yield, rain use efficiency (RUE), and N partial factor productivity (NPFP) were analyzed in two maize hybrids (ZP666 and NS6030) for 2 yr using four N rates (0 (N0), 60 (N60), 120 (N120), and 180 (N180) kg N ha −1 ). In a climatically more favorable year (2022), the studied traits and NPFP were higher, while RUE was lower. Hybrid ZP666 had higher values of morphological traits and yield component traits, except 1000-grain weight, grain yield, RUE, and NPFP, than hybrid NS6030. The highest values for morphological traits, yield components, grain yield (9383 and 9456 kg ha −1 ), and RUE (27.1 and 27.2 kg ha −1 mm −1 ) were obtained at 120 and 180 kg N ha −1 . The NPFP decreased significantly with increasing N input, from 137.6 (control) to 52.5 kg grain per kg fertilizer N (180 kg N ha −1 ). A suitable hybrid selection and the application of a moderate N fertilizer rate of 120 kg N ha −1 could contribute to high yields and lower nitrogen losses to the environment and promote sustainable agriculture.

Keywords: maize; N fertilizer; morphological traits; yield components traits; grain yield; N partial factor productivity; rain use efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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