MADDA WALABU UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE

DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCE

EFFECTS OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER RATE ON YIELD AND

YIELD COMPONENTS OF MAIZE IN GOLOLCHA DISTRICT,
EAST BALE ZONE, ETHIOPIA

SUBMITTED BY:

SUBMITTED TO: DIRRIBA TESFAYE (MSC)

MARCH, 2023
BALE-ROBE, ETHIOPIA
 ABSTRACT
The experiment will be done on the effect of different nitrogen fertilizer rate to determine the
optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate at Gololcha district in 2023 growing season. The maize
variety BH666 will be used as experimental material. The length and width of the plot will be
3.75m and 3m respectively i.e, 3.75 x 3 m = (11.25 m 2) with spacing of 30 cm and 75 cm
between plants and rows respectively will be used. There will be 5 rows on each plot and 10
plants of maize crops on every row of the plot. The outermost one row in each plot and the
two plants on both ends of each row will be considered as borders. Thus net plot size was
2.25 x 1.8m = (4.05 m2). Generally, 15 plots will be made having spacing of 0.5 m between
plot and 1 m distance between block with total area of 206.25 m² and total cropped area of
60.75 m². The experiment will consists of five rates of Nitrogen (0, 23 kg N ha-1, 46 kg N ha-
1, 69 kg N ha-1 and 92 kg N ha-1) and the treatments will be laid out in a randomized
compete block design (RCBD) with three replication.A combination of five levels of N-
fertilizer rate (0 kg ha-1, 23kg ha-1, 46 kg ha-1, 69kg ha-1 and 92 kg ha-1) will be laid out in a
Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications using maize variety BH66.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all we would like to thanks the god for his mercy and he gave as healthy to do this
work after that we would like to thanks department of plant science and our teacher Mr.
Diriba Tesfaye who give us this chance to do proposal

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 LIST OF ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS
GDM Gololcha District Municipality
CSA Central Statistical Agency
DAS Days after Sowing
FAO Food and Agriculture Office
LSD Least Significant Difference
RCBD Randomized Complete Block Design

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 LIST OF TABLES
Table: 1. Activities and time of their implementation ---------------------------------------------10
Table: 2. List of labor related costs--------------------------------------------------------------------11
Table: 3. Per-Diem Expenses--------------------------------------------------------------------------11
Table: 4. Stationery Cost-------------------------------------------------------------------------------11
Table: 5. Experimental Supplies---------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
Table: 6. Budget Summary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------11

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 TABLE OF CONTENT
ABSTRACT I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT II
LIST OF ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS III
LIST OF TABLES IV
TABLE OF CONTENT V
1. INTRODUCTION 1
1.1. Backgrounds of the Study 1
1.2. Statement of the problem 2
1.3. Objectives 2
1.3.1 General objective 2
1.3.2 Specific objective 2
1.4. The scope of the study 2
2. LITERATURE REVIEW 3
2.1. Origin, Agro-Ecologies and Maize Production in Ethiopia 3
2.2. Importance and Uses of Maize 3
2.3. Production status of Maize 4
2.4. Effects of Nitrogen on Maize Grain Yield 4
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS 7
3.1 Description of the study Area 7
3.1.1. Location 7
3.1.2. Climate 7
3.1.3. Populations 7
3.2. Experimental materials 7
3.3. Treatment and experimental design 8
3.4. Experimental Procedures 8
3.5. Data Collection and Measurement 8
3.5.1. Growth parameter data 9
3.5.2. Yield component and yield 9
3.6. Statistical analysis 9
4. WORK PLAN 10
5. LOGISTICS AND BUDGET 11
6. REFERENCES 12

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 1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Backgrounds of the Study
Maize (Zea mays L.) is annual crop belonging to the family gramineae or Poaceae and it is
the third important cereal crop of the World after wheat and rice (Tollenaar and Dwyer,
1999). The introduction of maize to Ethiopia dates back to 16 th or early 17th centuries by
Portuguese (Haffangel, 1961). It is considered to be indigenous to the Americas particularly
southern Mexico. It has been domesticated about 8000 years ago and does not exist in its wild
form (Mandal, 2014).
It is a warm season crop and most production takes place between 21 -27°C (Shaw, 1988).
Maize can be grown on a wide variety of soils, but performs best on well drained, well
aerated, deep, warm loams and silt loams containing adequate organic matter (Purseglove,
1972). It is successfully grown from sea level in plains to as high as 3300 meter above sea
level in the highlands from 50° N to 40° S latitude and in regions receiving rainfall of 500-
700 mm per annum as multi-purpose crop in temperate, subtropical regions of the world
(Ihsan et al., 2005).The major maize production zone in Ethiopia is between 1000 to 2000
m.a.s.l. (CSA, 2016).
Globally, it is known as “queen of cereals” because it has the highest genetic yield potential
among the cereals. Maize is the most important cereal crop that ranks third, after wheat and
rice in hectarage and total production (FAOSTAT, 2015). At worldwide, it was cultivated on
197.23 million hectares and recorded the production of 1134.43 million tons of grains with an
average grain yield of 5810 kg ha-1 (FAOSTAT, 2017).
In Ethiopia maize is the second largest food security crop after teff (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.). In
Ethiopia, maize ranks first in productivity per hectare and also in total grain production and
second in total hectarage after teff. According to CSA (2018), in Ethiopia the total land areas
of about 12,677,882.27 hectares are covered by grain crops, i.e. cereals, pulses and oilseeds.
Out of which 80.71% (10,232,582.23 ha) was under cereals. Teff, maize, sorghum and wheat
took up 23.85% (about 3,023,283.50 ha), 16.79% (about 2,128,948.91 ha), 14.96%
(1,896,389.29 ha) and 13.38% (1,696,907.05 ha) of the grain crop area, respectively (CSA,
2018). In East Bale zone Gololcha District the production status reaches over 2400 tons. It is
cultivated in all kebeles and it covers 8000 ha among the cereal crops (Annual report,
Gololcha District agricultural office, 2015).

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1.2. Statement of the problem
In Ethiopia, past efforts have been engaged in identifying production problem, improving
Maize cultivars and its production practices. Maize is a cold weather annual crop having high
nutrient and water requirement (anon, 2006). Several production and management related
limiting factors have not yet been addressed among which fertilizer management is the major
area that should get consideration to improve the production of Maize (Getachow and Asfaw,
2000). In order to improve Maize production, proper fertilizer application (type, time and
rate) should be considered. Different investigators have reported that application of Nitrogen
and phosphorus had significant effect on growth and yield of Maize. Research conducted by
Mulatu, Tesfaye, and Getachew (2014) in southern part of Ethiopia confirms that application
of different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer had significant effect on the growth
and yield of Maize. While, in the study area, Maize is produced as a cash crop and there was
no fertilizer recommendation done so far for its production. Therefore, we initiated to
conduct research on the effects of Nitrogen fertilizer on yield and yield component of Maize.

1.3. Objectives
1.3.1 General objective
The general objective of this study will be to identify the effect of different rates of nitrogen
fertilizer on yield component and yield of maize in the study area

1.3.2 Specific objective

1. To determine the effects of nitrogen fertilizer rate on yield and yield
components of Maize
2. To identify and recommend the best nitrogen fertilizer application rates for
maize production in the study area.

1.4. The scope of the study

This study will be conducted at cimo kebele, Gololcha District, East Bale Zone, South East
Ethiopia. It only focuses on the effects of nitrogen fertilizer rates on growth, yield
components and yield of maize.

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 2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. Origin, Agro-Ecologies and Maize Production in Ethiopia
Maize is a member of the grass family, Poaceae. It is believed that the crop was originated in
Mexico and introduced to West Africa in the early 1500s by the Portuguese traders
(Dowswell et al., 1996). It has never been found growing in a wild state. There is no reliable
evidence that maize reached the old world prior to 1492. Ethiopia is among the major maize
producers in Sub Saharan African countries, where smallholder farmers dominate the major
share of production. Maize, which is originated from South America, is first introduced in
Ethiopia in the 16th to 17th Century (Abdisa et al., 2001).
The crop requires an average daily temperature of at least 20oC for adequate growth and
development; the optimum temperature for growth and development ranges between 25-
30oC; temperature above 35oC reduces yields (Brink and Belay, 2006)
Currently, maize is widely grown in most parts of the world over a wide range of
environmental conditions ranging between 50 latitude north and south of the equator. It is
also grown from sea level to over 3000 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l) elevation. In the
tropics, maize does best with 600-900 mm well-distributed rainfall during the growing
season. The most suitable soil for maize is one with a good effective depth, favorable
morphological properties, good internal drainage, and an optimal moisture regime, sufficient
and balanced quantities of plant nutrients and chemical properties that are favorable
specifically for maize production. Although large-scale maize production takes place on soils
with a clay content of less than 10% (sandy soils) or in excess of 30% (clay and clay loam
soils), the textural classes between 10 and 30% (clay) have air and moisture regimes that are
optimal for healthy maize production and productivity (Brink et al., 2006).
2.2. Importance and Uses of Maize
Maize is a major crop in Ethiopia in production, consumption and income generation for both
resource constrained men and women. In addition to the highest total production per annum
and the highest per-hectare yield, maize is also the single most important crop in terms of
number of farmers engaged in cultivation.Maize is used as food for human, feed for livestock
and raw material for industrial purposes (Dowswell et al., 1996). Millions of people depend
on maize for their daily food in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ethiopia, maize is staple food and one
of the main sources of calorie in the major maize producing regions (Kebede et al., 1993).
Similarly, FAO (2018) reported that maize is increasingly used for human consumption and
accounted for 70% of the food consumed in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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Cereals contributed 87.48% (about 267,789,764.02 quintals) of the grain production. Maize,
teff, wheat and sorghum made up 27.43% (83,958,872.44 quintals), 17.26% (52,834,011.56
quintals), 15.17% (46,429,657.12 quintals) and 16.89% (51,692,525.40 quintals) of the grain
production, in the same order (CSA, 2018). According to, CSA, (2018) with regard to
estimated crop yield, crops such as maze, teff, and wheat within the category of cereals have
shown an increment, that ranges from 7.32 quintal ha -1 to 28.93 quintal ha-1 for maize; from
5.05 qt ha-1 to 26.76 qt ha-1 for teff; and from 2.28 to 29.67 qt ha-1 for Wheat over the last five
years (2012/13 - 2017/18).
2.3. Production status of Maize
Maize is one of the most important cereal crops in the world. Its worldwide economic
importance is due to its use as food for human, cash crop, feed for animals, and an industrial
grain crop. According to FAOSTAT (2016), 1.06 billion tons of maize was produced on 188
million hectares worldwide, with a yield of over 5.64 tons ha-1 in the year 2016. Maize is the
most important cereal crop in eastern and southern Africa accounting for over 39.5% of the
total harvested area of annual cereal crops (FAOSTAT, 2016).
According to CSA (2018), maize is the second important cereal after teff in terms of area
coverage and volume of production in Ethiopia. According to CSA (2018), the total land
areas of about 12,677,882.27 hectares were covered by grain crops, i.e. cereals, pulses and
oilseeds. Out of the total grain crop area, 80.71% (10,232,582.23 hectares) was under cereals.
Teff, maize, sorghum and wheat took up 23.85% (about 3,023,283.50 hectares), 16.79%
(about 2,128,948.91 hectares), 14.96% (1,896,389.29 hectares) and 13.38% (1,696,907.05
hectares) of the grain crop area, respectively (CSA, 2018).
In addition to the highest total production per annum and the highest per-hectare yield, maize
is also the single most important crop in terms of number of farmers engaged in cultivation.
According to data from CSA, (2017), 10.9 million smallholders were involved in maize
production in the country during 2017 production season.
2.4. Effects of Nitrogen on Maize Grain Yield
Nitrogen (N) is the nutrient that most often limits maize grain yield and quality (Thanki et al.,
1988). Even under conditions where grain yield is not limited, N can affect composition and
quality. Although maize is usually considered as energy food, it contains important quantity
of protein. Grain yield of maize is a product of three yields components, i.e. the number of
ears per unit area, the number of grains per ear and the unit grain weight (Gardner et al.,
1985). Increase or decrease in any one of these components, keeping the size of other

9
components constant, contributes to increase or decrease in grain yield, respectively, and thus
any exercise whether agronomic (management) or breeding type (genotype), which increase
any of these components, keeping the other components constant, will increase the final grain
yield. Devid et al., (2001) reported that ears per plant, ear length, number of seeds per ear and
100-seed weight directly influence the grain yield and indirectly affected several other
parameters. Similarly, Sugiharto et al., (1990) reported that in maturing photosynthetic leaf
cells of maize lack of N causes reduced level of phospho-enol-pruvate carboxylase enzyme,
which helps to replace Krebs-cycle acids used in the synthetic reactions and help to form
malate needed in charge balancing functions.
Nitrogen plays a pivotal role in several physiological processes inside the plant. It is
fundamental to establish the plant's photosynthetic capacity, it prolongs the effective leaf area
duration, delays senescence maintain functional kernels throughout grain filling, influencing
the number of developed kernels and kernel final size, (Earl and Tollenaar, 1997). The
requirement of nitrogen in the composition of the crop can set a minimum on the amount of
nitrogen, which must be supplied by the soil and the fertilizer. It is a key factor in achieving
optimum grain yield.

Yield is significantly affected by both N application timing and nitrogen rates. Nitrogen
levels significantly increase the grain yield. Yield varying between 4744.8 kg ha -1 in no
nitrogen application and 7355.5 kg ha-1 with application of 225 kg N ha-1 have been reported
by Ali and Raouf (2012). The fact that grain yield varied significantly with timing and
regimentation of nitrogen strongly underscores the necessity of fine tuning N application to
match nutrient supply to crop demand. Nitrogen applied at 35 days after sowing or in equal
splits at 0 and 35 day after sowing or at 35 and 70 days after sowing gave consistently more
grain yield than other modes, particularly when N rate was 120 kg ha-1. The findings confirm
the agronomic benefits of split nitrogen application in crops reported by many researchers
(Mungai et al., 1999).
According to Hammad et al. (2011) Nitrogen application had much greater effect on maize
grain yield; this could be due to the fact that application of N fertilizer in plants increases
uptake of other nutrients. This can be explained by the fact that the supply of N enhanced the
development of small roots and root hairs which, in turn, facilitate the absorbing ability per
unit of dry weight. According to Mekdad (2015) increase in yield as a result of increasing
nitrogen fertilizer levels may be due to the importance of nitrogen as one of the macronutrient
elements for plant nutrition and its role in increasing vegetative growth through enhancing

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leaf initiation and increment of chlorophyll concentration in leaves which may reflect in
improving photosynthesis process.
The general conclusion of grain yield increase over control per kg N applied and time of N
application in maize has been due to good synchrony if N is applied nearest to the time it is
needed by the crop (Vetsch and Randall, 2004).

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 3. MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Description of the study Area
3.1.1. Location
Gololcha District is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia, named for its
administrative center, Gololcha District Located in the South corner of the Ginnir Woreda, It
is bordered on the East by Lega Hida and Sawena Woredas on the North by Seru District, on
the west by the Gasera District. Geographically, the Woreda is situated at 70 3' 30'' N, to 70 10'
45’’N latitude north and 390 57' 38''E, to 4002'38'' E longitude east.
3.1.2. Climate
Gololcha District falls within “weinadaga” agro climatic zone with an average monthly
minimum 15℃ and maximum temperature of 21 ℃ ,respectively (Socio-Economic Profile of
Gololcha District Municipality, 2021G.C). As a result, the air of the district is cold and calm
in the morning but there is high speed wind in the late afternoon and in the evening with the
dominance of easterly winds in most seasons of the year. The altitude of the district extends
from 2419 meters to 2560 meters above sea level which determined Gololcha District to fall
in the temperate “weinadaga” agro climatic zone (Socio-Economic of GDM, 2021).

3.1.3. Populations
This woreda has an estimated total population of 94,584, of whom 47,761 are men and
46,823 are women; 13,246 or 14.00% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater
than the Zone average of 13.5%. With an estimated area of 1,213.28 square kilometers,
Gololcha has an estimated population density of 78 people per square kilometre, which is
greater than the Zone average of 27 (Gololcha District Administrative office, 2021).
3.2. Experimental materials
A high yielding maize variety, BH 661, which adapts in the area, will be used. It is a drought
resistant hybrid varieties released under DTMA (Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa) project
in Ethiopia in 2011 (CIMMYT, 2014) at Bako Agricultural Research Center through the
national maize research program (AGP, 2015). It has a wider adaptability (mid to transition
highlands) (CIMMYT, 2014) and grows well at an altitude ranging from 1650 to 2200 meter
above sea level with an annual precipitation of 1000 to 1500 mm. It needs about 170 days for
maturity and performs better under high rainfall, good soil condition and high dose of
fertilizer application (NSIA, 1998). Nitrogen fertilizers in the form of urea (46% N) will be
used by calculating amount of Nitrogen. The N fertilizers will be applied at different rates to

12
the experimental plots while the recommended rate of phosphorus fertilizer in the form of
DAP (Di-ammonium Phosphate) will be applied uniformly to all plots at the time of sowing.
3.3. Treatment and experimental design
The length and width of the plot will be 3.75m and 3m respectively i.e, 3.75 x 3 m = (11.25
m2) with spacing of 30 cm and 75 cm between plants and rows respectively will be used.
There will be 5 rows on each plot and 10 plants of maize crops on every row of the plot. The
outermost one row in each plot and the two plants on both ends of each row will be
considered as borders. Thus net plot size will be 2.25 x 1.8m = (4.05 m 2). Generally, 15 plots
will be made having spacing of 0.5 m between plot and 1 m distance between block with total
area of 206.25 m² and total cropped area of 60.75 m². The experiment will be consists of five
rates of Nitrogen (0, 23 kg N ha-1, 46 kg N ha-1, 69 kg N ha-1 and 92 kg N ha-1) and the
treatments will be laid out in a randomized compete block design (RCBD) with three
replication.
3.4. Experimental Procedures
Fertilizer Application and Field Activity
All field activities will be carried out with the following standards. The site will be cleared
and cultivated three times in 15 days difference. After the selected site will be ploughed three
times in 15 days interval, cleaned and prepared, leveling, block and plot making activities
will be followed. Planting (sowing) will be putted to be done in 2 nd- 4rth week of March 2022.
But due to absence of rain it will be extended to 4th week and sown on 28th March 2022 by
placing the seeds in hand made furrows at the inter and intra row spacing of 75 cm and 30
cm, respectively. Nitrogen fertilizer with each level rate will be applied. 1/3 of nitrogen
fertilizer will be added at the planting 1/3 at tillering or knee height growth stage and 1/3 will
be applied at booting. Weeding will be carried out by hand weeding after weed emergence
and late emerging weeds will be removed by hoeing to avoid interference with the maize
plant for the N applied.
3.5. Data Collection and Measurement
Data on crop growth parameters (plant height, leaf area) and yield and yield components
(number of ear per plant, number of kernel per ear, ear length and grain yield) will be
collected according to the established standard procedures for maize. The field data will be
obtained from the net plot

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3.5.1. Growth parameter data
Plant height (cm): The height of ten randomly taken plants will be measured as a distance
from ground level to the point where the tassel branching starts using meter stick at
physiological maturity and then averaged to plant basis.
Leaf area: All available leaves of five plants per net plot will be measured at 50% silking
stage and leaf length and width will be measured and leaf area will be calculated as: Leaf
Area (LA) = Leaf length (cm) x Maximum width of leaf (cm) and will be adjusted by a
correction factor 0.75 (i.e. 0.75 x leaf length x maximum leaf width) as suggested by (pearce
et al., 1975).
3.5.2. Yield component and yield
Ear length: It will be recorded from the measure of ten randomly taken ears from net plot at
harvest and then averaged on per ear basis.
Number of kernels per ear: It will be recorded from average of five randomly taken ears per
plot. This will be done by seed counter machine and then averaged on per ear basis.
Number of ears per plant: It will be recorded from the count of ten randomly sampled
plants per net plot at harvest and then averaged on per plant basis.
Grain yield (kg ha-1): It will be determined by weighing the shelled and dried grains from
the net plot area and the grain yield will be adjusted to 12.5% moisture level as:

kg Actual grain yield (100−M )

Adjusted grain yield ( )=
ha 100−D

Where= M, is the measured moisture content in grain and D is the designated moisture
content (12.5%).
3.6. Statistical analysis
The raw data of each parameter from each plot and replication will be recorded and analysed
using analysis of their variance (ANOVA). The data will be analysed using SAS software and
Fisher’s distribution (F-calculated) will be calculated from the data. The treatment means will
be separated using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 5% level of probability.

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 4. WORK PLAN
Table: 1. Activities and time of their implementation

No Activities Period/Duration

1 Land preparation and site selection May, 2023

2 Seed and other material preparation, layout and sowing May- June, 2023
3 Field management and data collection July- November, 2023
4 Harvest and postharvest activities November-December, 2023
5 Data processing and statistical analysis February, 2024
6 Data interpretation and Research report writing February, 2024

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 5. LOGISTICS AND BUDGET
Table: 2. List of labor related costs
No Item No of man No days Unit price Total cost
1 Land preparation and leveling 4 4 100 1,600
2 Sowing 8 1 100 800
3 field management 3 20 100 6000
4 Harvesting 10 1 100 1000
5 Threshing, clearing and weighing 4 10 100 4000
Sub-total 13,400

Table: 3. Per Diem Expenses

No Person No. Days Daily rate (Birr) Total (Birr)
1 Investigator 10 200.00 2,000.00
2 Data collector 10 200.00 2,000.00
Sub-total 4,000.00

Table: 4. Stationery Cost

N O Items Unit Quantity Unit cost Total cost
1 Printing paper Ream 3 200 600.00
2 Pen Piece 10 20 200.00
3 Note book Piece 1 200 200.00
Sub – total 1,000.00

Table: 5. Experimental Supplies

No Item Unit Quantity Unit price (Birr) Total cost (Birr)
1 Sack no 15 20.00 300.00
2 Paper bag no 15 5.0 75.00
3 Urea Kg 5 23 115
4 NPS Kg 2 25 50
5 Maize seed Kg 2 20.00 60.00
Sub-total 600

Table: 6. Budget Summary

No Description Sub-total cost (Birr)
1 Labor 13400
2 Per Diem Expenses 4000
3 Stationery Cost 1000
4 Experimental Supplies 600
Total budget 19000:00

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