Evaluation of Different Levels of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Agronomic Traits of Corn (Zea mays L.) Genotypes

Corn production management including nitrogen consumption will be different at different circumstances. In order to investigate the effect of different levels of nitrogen fertilizer on yield and yield components of seed corn hybrids in Khuzestan weather conditions, this research was carried out in the summer of 2013 in the lands of Safi Abad Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Center-Dezful (Seed Control and Certificate Unit) in Northern Khuzestan Province. The experiment was conducted as the split plot in the form of randomized complete block design with three replications. The main factor included two levels of seed corn hybrids (S.C. 704 and Karun) and the sub plot included four levels of nitrogen fertilizer consumption (200, 300, 400, and 500 kg.ha-1). The results showed that there was a significant difference between the hybrids just in terms of the number of seeds per row and biological yield. The difference between different levels of nitrogen consumption was significant in terms of seed yield, biological yield, 1000-seed weight, number of seeds per row, and harvest index. The interactive effects of treatments on the studied traits were not significant. According to the results of the research, consumption of 500 kg.ha-1 nitrogen and the use of S.C 704 hybrid is highly recommended to achieve maximum yield.