Effect of Tillage Methods and Nitrogen Levels on Seed Yield, Weed Traits, and Nitrogen use Efficiencies of Maize (Zea mays)

Effect of Tillage Methods and Nitrogen Levels on Seed Yield, Weed Traits, and Nitrogen use Efficiencies of Maize (Zea mays)
 
 
 
Amin fathi1*, Ehsan zeidali2
1- Department of Agronomy, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Amol,
2-Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Ilam University, Iran.
 
 
 
 
*Corresponding email address: dr.aminfathi@gmail.com
 
Received: 5 March 2022                                                                               Accepted:  15 June  2022
 
Abstract
 
Tillage (T) methods and nitrogen (N) rates are influential factors in improving maize yield. An experiment was conducted as a factorial arranged in randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) for two years (2016-2018). In treatments consisting of three tillage methods minimum tillage (MT) (chisel plower and furrower) and conventional tillage (CT) (once moldboard plow+ once disc + furrower), intensive tillage (IT) (two moldboards plow + two disc + furrower) as main plot, and five N levels (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg N ha-1) as subplots. The results showed that MT method had the highest seed yield (7615.9 kg ha-1), an increase of 22.3% and 5.8% over IT and CT methods, respectively. Additionally, the highest seed yield (7484 kg. ha-1) was obtained with 200 kg ha-1 of N, an increase of 21% higher than control. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and weed management were affected by N. However, the results showed that weed weight, and the number increased with increasing the N levels. On the other hand, reducing N level reduced seed yield. It is therefore essential to maximize efficiency with good management. Overall, the results revealed that MT method can be recommended as an appropriate agronomic approach and it had higher performance compared to CT and IT methods in the region.