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Relative Performance of Coated Blends, Granular Blends and Compound Fertilizers on Maize Yield

Received: 7 November 2022     Accepted: 23 November 2022     Published: 30 November 2022
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Abstract

Multi-nutrient fertilizers are becoming increasingly popular. Differences in relative crop response between blended and compound fertilizer forms have received little attention. This study was carried out to investigate the relative performance of a compound fertilizer, a blend formulated with coated micronutrients (zinc and boron), and a blend formulated with granular micronutrients. Yara MilaTM PowerTM compound fertilizer was used as the nutrient reference fertilizer, and two blends were formulated to apply the same amounts of nutrients per hectare. Both full and half rates of each fertilizer were applied. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications was employed at two sites in Bungoma county, Kenya using maize as a test crop. Ear-leaf analyses showed non-significant differences for most nutrients in most treatments within sites, with leaf N, K, S, B and Zn deficiency evident at both sites. Leaf deficiencies of Zn and B suggest that rates may not have been adequate for optimal production. Site 2 (pH 4.52) showed substantially lower ear-leaf nutrient concentrations compared with Site 1 (pH 5.14), particularly for Mg and Ca, which were also deficient in initial soil analysis at both sites. At Site 1, no significant differences were noted between the micronutrient coated blend, granular blend and compound, and yields were greatest at the full rate of fertilizer. At Site 2, the micronutrient coated blend gave significantly greater yields than the granular blend and the compound, and yields were not affected by fertilizer rate. We conclude that micronutrient-coated blends can be as effective or more effective than fertilizer compounds containing the same nutrient concentrations.

Published in International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences (Volume 8, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijaas.20220806.19
Page(s) 259-264
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Compound Fertilizers, Coated Blend, Granular Blend, Micronutrients, Acid Soil, Maize Yield

References
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[2] Barnes, B., & Fortune, T. (2004). Blending & Spreading Fertilizer-Physical Properties. https://www.fertilizer-assoc.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Blending_Spreading-Physical_Characteristics_B_Barnes.pdf. Accessed online on 17/12/2021.
[3] Gowariker, V., Krishnamurthy, V. N., Gowariker, S., Dhanorkar, M., & Paranjape, K. (2009). The fertilizer encyclopedia. John Wiley & Sons.
[4] Finch, H., Samuel, A., & Lane, G. (2014). Fertilisers and Manures. In: H. Finch, A. Samuel And G. Lane, Ed., Lockhart And Wiseman's Crop Husbandry Including Grassland, 8th Ed. Woodhead Publishing Series In Food Science, Technology And Nutrition, pp. 52-78.
[5] Santos, G. A., Korndörfer, G. H., & Pereira, H. S. (2016). Methods Of Adding Micronutrients To A NPK Formulation And Maize Development. Journal Of Plant Nutrition, 39 (9), 1266– 1282.
[6] Mohajan, H. K. (2014). Food And Nutrition Scenario Of Kenya. American Journal Of Food And Nutrition, 2 (2), 28-38.
[7] Smaling, E. M. A., & Janssen, B. H. (1993). Calibration of QUEFTS, a model predicting nutrient uptake and yields from chemical soil fertility indices. Geoderma, 59 (1-4), 21-44.
[8] Kiwia, A., Imo, M., Jama, B., & Okalebo, J. R. (2009). Coppicing improved fallows are profitable for maize production in striga infested soils of western Kenya. Agroforestry Systems, 76 (2), 455-465.
[9] Drinnan, J. E. (2008). Fertiliser strategies for mechanical tea production. Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.
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[11] Njoroge, R., Otinga, A. N., Okalebo, J. R., Pepela, M., & Merckx, R. (2017). Occurrence Of Poorly Responsive Soils In Western Kenya And Associated Nutrient Imbalances In Maize (Zea mays L.). Field Crops Research, 210, 162-174.
[12] Working Group WRB. (2015). World Reference Base For Soil Resources 2014, Update 2015: International Soil Classification System For Naming Soils And Creating Legends For Soilmaps. World Soil Resources Reports No. 106, 192.
[13] Njoroge, R., Otinga, A. N., Okalebo, J. R., Pepela, M., & Merckx, R. (2018). Maize (Zea mays L.) Response To Secondary And Micronutrients For Profitable N, P And K Fertilizer Use In Poorly Responsive Soils. Agronomy, 8 (4), 49.
[14] Maguta, J. K. (2009). Conservation Tillage In Kenya: The Biophysical Processes Affecting Its Effectiveness. Ecology And Development Series No. 66. ZEF.
[15] Kihara, J., & Njoroge, S. (2013). Phosphorus Agronomic Efficiency In Maize-Based Cropping Systems: A Focus on Western Kenya. Field Crops Research, 150, 1–8. S.
[16] Clewer, A. G., & Scarisbrick, D. H. (2001). Practical Statistics And Experimental Design For Plant And Crop Science. John Wiley & Sons.
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[20] Shivay, Y. S., Kumar, D., Prasad, R., & Ahlawat, I. P. S. (2007). Relative Yield And Zinc Uptake By Rice From Zinc Sulphate And Zinc Oxide Coatings Onto Urea. Nutrient Cycling In Agroecosystems, 80 (2), 181-188.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Reda Ahmed, Quintar Genga, Mercy Ngunjiri, Leonardus Vergutz, John Wendt. (2022). Relative Performance of Coated Blends, Granular Blends and Compound Fertilizers on Maize Yield. International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences, 8(6), 259-264. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaas.20220806.19

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    ACS Style

    Reda Ahmed; Quintar Genga; Mercy Ngunjiri; Leonardus Vergutz; John Wendt. Relative Performance of Coated Blends, Granular Blends and Compound Fertilizers on Maize Yield. Int. J. Appl. Agric. Sci. 2022, 8(6), 259-264. doi: 10.11648/j.ijaas.20220806.19

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    AMA Style

    Reda Ahmed, Quintar Genga, Mercy Ngunjiri, Leonardus Vergutz, John Wendt. Relative Performance of Coated Blends, Granular Blends and Compound Fertilizers on Maize Yield. Int J Appl Agric Sci. 2022;8(6):259-264. doi: 10.11648/j.ijaas.20220806.19

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijaas.20220806.19,
      author = {Reda Ahmed and Quintar Genga and Mercy Ngunjiri and Leonardus Vergutz and John Wendt},
      title = {Relative Performance of Coated Blends, Granular Blends and Compound Fertilizers on Maize Yield},
      journal = {International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences},
      volume = {8},
      number = {6},
      pages = {259-264},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijaas.20220806.19},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaas.20220806.19},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijaas.20220806.19},
      abstract = {Multi-nutrient fertilizers are becoming increasingly popular. Differences in relative crop response between blended and compound fertilizer forms have received little attention. This study was carried out to investigate the relative performance of a compound fertilizer, a blend formulated with coated micronutrients (zinc and boron), and a blend formulated with granular micronutrients. Yara MilaTM PowerTM compound fertilizer was used as the nutrient reference fertilizer, and two blends were formulated to apply the same amounts of nutrients per hectare. Both full and half rates of each fertilizer were applied. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications was employed at two sites in Bungoma county, Kenya using maize as a test crop. Ear-leaf analyses showed non-significant differences for most nutrients in most treatments within sites, with leaf N, K, S, B and Zn deficiency evident at both sites. Leaf deficiencies of Zn and B suggest that rates may not have been adequate for optimal production. Site 2 (pH 4.52) showed substantially lower ear-leaf nutrient concentrations compared with Site 1 (pH 5.14), particularly for Mg and Ca, which were also deficient in initial soil analysis at both sites. At Site 1, no significant differences were noted between the micronutrient coated blend, granular blend and compound, and yields were greatest at the full rate of fertilizer. At Site 2, the micronutrient coated blend gave significantly greater yields than the granular blend and the compound, and yields were not affected by fertilizer rate. We conclude that micronutrient-coated blends can be as effective or more effective than fertilizer compounds containing the same nutrient concentrations.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Relative Performance of Coated Blends, Granular Blends and Compound Fertilizers on Maize Yield
    AU  - Reda Ahmed
    AU  - Quintar Genga
    AU  - Mercy Ngunjiri
    AU  - Leonardus Vergutz
    AU  - John Wendt
    Y1  - 2022/11/30
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaas.20220806.19
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijaas.20220806.19
    T2  - International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences
    JF  - International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences
    JO  - International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences
    SP  - 259
    EP  - 264
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2469-7885
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaas.20220806.19
    AB  - Multi-nutrient fertilizers are becoming increasingly popular. Differences in relative crop response between blended and compound fertilizer forms have received little attention. This study was carried out to investigate the relative performance of a compound fertilizer, a blend formulated with coated micronutrients (zinc and boron), and a blend formulated with granular micronutrients. Yara MilaTM PowerTM compound fertilizer was used as the nutrient reference fertilizer, and two blends were formulated to apply the same amounts of nutrients per hectare. Both full and half rates of each fertilizer were applied. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications was employed at two sites in Bungoma county, Kenya using maize as a test crop. Ear-leaf analyses showed non-significant differences for most nutrients in most treatments within sites, with leaf N, K, S, B and Zn deficiency evident at both sites. Leaf deficiencies of Zn and B suggest that rates may not have been adequate for optimal production. Site 2 (pH 4.52) showed substantially lower ear-leaf nutrient concentrations compared with Site 1 (pH 5.14), particularly for Mg and Ca, which were also deficient in initial soil analysis at both sites. At Site 1, no significant differences were noted between the micronutrient coated blend, granular blend and compound, and yields were greatest at the full rate of fertilizer. At Site 2, the micronutrient coated blend gave significantly greater yields than the granular blend and the compound, and yields were not affected by fertilizer rate. We conclude that micronutrient-coated blends can be as effective or more effective than fertilizer compounds containing the same nutrient concentrations.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Soil & Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt

  • International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC), Nairobi, Kenya

  • International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC), Nairobi, Kenya

  • Agrobio Sciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Benguerir, Morocco

  • International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC), Nairobi, Kenya

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