Response of Hybrid Maize to Nitrogen and Phosphorus Application in Gedeo zone, Southern Ethiopia

Decline in crop yields has been a major problem facing smallholder farming in Gedeo Zone. This is attributed mainly to the mining of macronutrients due to continuous cropping without the external addition of adequate nutrients. Information on the effect of N and P fertilizers is not available for Gedeo farmers. Therefore, the experiment was conducted in the Dilla ATVET College to determine the effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers on the growth, yield, and yield components of maize (Zea mays L.) during the 2008 main cropping season. The experimental crop was maize var. BH-540. The experiment comprised of a factorial combination of 4 levels of N (0, 35, 70, and 105 kg ha-1) and 4 levels of P (0, 10.1, 20.2 and 30.3 kg ha-1) arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Surface soil samples (0-30 cm depth) were collected before planting and analyzed in the laboratory for major chemical and physical properties.