Optimization of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers doses in hybrid maize (Zea mays) in Kandahar province of Afghanistan

A field experiment was carried out during the summer season of 2015 at research farm of Afghanistan National Agricultural Sciences and Technology University (ANASTU), Kandahar, Afghanistan in randomized complete block design to find out the effect of different combinations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization on growth, yield attributes and yield of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) ‘CS-200’. The treatments consisted of 8 combinations of N: P₂O₅ in 2: 1 ratio, viz. control, 20: 10, 40: 20, 60: 30, 80: 40, 100: 50, 120: 60 and 140: 70 kg/ha and replicated thrice. Significantly higher growth and yield attributes, viz. plant height (194 cm), number of green leaves (13.3/plant), leaf-area index (4.81), dry-matter accumulation (289 g/plant), cob length (20.7 cm), cob girth (12.9 cm), cob diameter (3.97 cm), cobs/plant (1.57), grain rows/cob (14.8.), grains/row (37.7), gains/cob (514), 1, 000-grain weight (276 g), grain yield (6.3 t/ha) and stover yield (15.6 t/ha) were recorded with 140: 70 N: P₂O₅ kg/ha. The findings of the study concluded that to realize the higher yield of hybrid maize in Kandahar province of Afghanistan, the crop should be fertilized with 140: 70 N: P₂O₅ kg/ha.