Effects of timing and nitrogen fertilizer application rates on maize yield components and yield in eastern Ethiopia

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important food security crop in Ethiopia. However, low soil fertility and the use of haphazard nitrogen (N) fertilizer with little attention to rate timing N application constrain productivity. Therefore, field experiments were conducted during 2019 2020 cropping seasons investigate response maize different rates timings. The treatments consisted six (0, 23, 46, 69, 92, 115 kg ha−1) four timings (all at vegetative stages; one-half sowing + one-third stages tasseling; one-fourth two-fourths tasseling). a randomized block design factorial arrangement three replications. results study revealed that ears per plant, ear length, grains row, ear, stover, grain yield significantly (p ≤ .001) influenced by interaction effects highest stover (9.99 t (9.41 obtained from 92 ha−1 split applications sowing, stages, tasseling. it concluded tasseling was found be most economical area.