EVALUATION OF PLACEMENT SITES AND FORMS OF UREA FERTILIZER FOR IMPROVED NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY IN HYBRID MAIZE CULTIVATION

Field experiments were carried out at Department of Agricultural Research, Head Quarter, Yezin and Tatkon Agricultural Research Farm, during winter season of 2017 to investigate the effect of placement pattern and form of urea fertilizer by using same fertilizer rate. Nitrogen fertilizer rate of 166.29 kg N ha-1 with two forms of nitrogen fertilizer (Briquette urea and Prilled urea) and three placement patterns; between plants (P1), between rows (P2) and between plants and rows (P3)were used. The 3 x 2 factorial arrangements were assigned in the randomized complete block design with 4 replications in both experimental sites. Mean effects of placement sites of applied nitrogen on seed yield of maize were not significant in this study. The highest mean values of seed yield were resulted at the placement pattern of P3 in Yezin (9015 kg ha-1) and Tatkon (9980 kg ha-1). Briquette urea gave generally higher yield than those of prilled urea in both sites. Non-significant interaction was observed between placement patterns and form of urea fertilizer applied in the variation of hybrid maize seed yield. The nitrogen uptake efficiency of the plant was significantly higher in application of briquette urea for both trials. But the nitrogen utilization efficiency for the applications of briquette was significantly lower than prilled urea treated plots. It could be due to the split application of prilled urea at three different growth stages. Application of the entire N in the form of briquette at basal with the rate of 166.29 kg N ha-1 showed better performance with respect to yield and nitrogen uptake efficiency of Yezin Hybrid Maize-10.