Interaction Effect of Chemical and Bio-Fertilizers and Deficit Irrigation on Yield and Yield Components of Sweet Corn (Zea mays L. Var saccharata) and Some Soil Biological Activity Indices

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Amir Atlasroody ¹
• Seyed Abdolreza Kazemeini ¹
• M.J Bahrani ²
• Mozhgan Sepehri ³

¹ Department of Plant Production and Genetics, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.

² Professor, Department of Plant Production and Genetics, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.

³ Assistant Professor, Department Soil Science and Engineering, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.

10.22067/agry.2022.73850.1082

Abstract

Introduction
Sweet corn (Zea mays L. Var saccharata) is an important cereal crop that referred to considerable human nutrition and industrial products of its sugar content, minerals phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, vitamins in most of the literatures. The negative impacts of long-term application of chemical fertilizers on the soil, environment and human health in arid and semi-arid regions have resulted in an increase in application of biological fertilizers in these areas. The application of biological fertilizers is an environmentally-friendly approach to plant growth and production. Bio-fertilizers have been applied in agriculture to significantly reduce the application of chemical fertilizers and it is used as a strategy for improving crop productivity, sustainability soil health, environment friendly and cost effective.
Material and Methods
This experiment was carried out as a factorial arranged as randomized complete blocks design with three replications during 2017 growing season at School of Agriculture, Shiraz University. The treatments included water regime at two levels (75% and 100% of water requirement) and five nitrogen rates and sources (no fertilizer, nitroxin, 150 kg urea, 150 kg urea + nitroxin and 300 kg urea). The traits included ear number per plant, row number per ear, grain number per row, canned grain yield, water use efficiency, ear harvest index, urease enzyme activity and soil microbial respiration. Crude protein was determined by Kjeldahl method, multiplied by the 6.25 (N × 6.25) conversion factor, and the results were then calculated as a percentage (%) and soluble sugar was measured by pocket model ATAGO refractometer. Moreover, ear harvest index was determined by the ratio of fresh grain yield (canned yield) per ear yield with husk, and urease enzyme activity and soil microbial respiration were estimated by the modified Kandeler and Gerber and Black et al's methods. Furthermore, yield and yield components were measured. Data were analyzed by using SAS 9.2 software and the means were separated using LSD test at 5% probability level.
Results and Discussion
The results showed that application of 150 kg urea + nitroxin significantly increased canned yield and its components, grain protein, grain soluble sugar, urease enzyme activity and soil microbial respiration, respectively compared to individual application of nitroxin and or 150 kg urea under water stress levels and there was no significant difference between 150 kg urea + nitroxin treatment and 300 kg urea ha^-1. Normal irrigation (100% of water requirement) and combination of 300 kg urea + nitroxin, significantly increased ear number per plant (21.7 and 16.6%), row number per ear (21.4 and 21.4%), grain number per row (19.3 and 11.5%), canned grain yield (41.4 and 30.5%), water use efficiency (45 and 8.4%), ear harvest index (20.3 and 22.1%), urease enzyme activity (40.0 and 68.8%) and soil microbial respiration (12.1 and 1.6%), respectively and there was no significant difference between 150 kg urea + nitroxin and 300 kg urea compared to individual application of nitroxin and 150 kg urea. Therefore, application of nitroxin as a bio-fertilizer combined with 150 kg urea ha^-1 produced the optimal canned yield and reduced nitrogen use and can be recommended in the arid and semi-arid regions.
Conclusion
According to the results, to improve the soil biological activity and yield and yield components of sweet corn, the combination of N150 and Ni instead of N300 is recommended and further research is also required to investigate the effects of applying Ni in combination with other bio-stimulants on yield and yield components of sweet corn.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the School of Agriculture, Shiraz University for their support, cooperation, and assistance throughout this research.

Keywords

• Canned grain yield
• Grain protein
• Grain sugar
• Soil microbial respiration

Main Subjects

• Resource Use Efficiency in Agriculture

---

©2023 The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source

References

1. Alijani, K., Bahrani, M.J., Kazemeini, S.A., & Yasrebi, J. (2021). Soil and sweet corn quality responses to tillage, residue, and nitrogen management in Southern Iran. International Journal of Plant Production, 15(1), 139-150. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42106-020-00127-z
2. Alizadeh, O., Alizadeh, A., & Khastkhodaii, A. (2008). Review the combined application of mycorrhiza and Azospirillum with the aim of optimization use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer in corn sustainable agriculture. The Findings of Modern Agricultural, 3(1), 1-12. (In Persian with English Summary)
3. Al‐Kaisi, M.M., & Yin, X. (2003). Effects of nitrogen rate, irrigation rate, and plant population on corn yield and water use efficiency. Agronomy Journal, 95(6), 1475-1482. https://doi.org/2134/agronj2003.1475
4. Bageshwar, U.K., Srivastava, M., Pardha-Saradhi, P., Paul, S., Gothandapani, S., Jaat, R.S., Shankar, P., Yadav, R., Biswas, D.R., Kumar, P.A., Padaria, J.C., Mandal, P.K., Annapurna, K., & Das, H.K. (2017). An environmentally friendly engineered Azotobacter strain that replaces a substantial amount of urea fertilizer while sustaining the same wheat yield. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 83, e00590-17. https://doi.org/1128/AEM.00590-17
5. Bashan, Y., & Levanony, H. (1990). Current status of Azospirillum inoculation technology: Azospirillum as a challenge for agriculture. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 36(9), 591-608.
6. Bhardwaj, D., Ansari, M.W., Sahoo, R.K., & Tuteja, N. (2014). Biofertilizers function as key player in sustainable agriculture by improving soil fertility, plant tolerance and crop productivity. Microbial Cell Factories, 13, 66. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2859-13-66
7. Black, C.A., Evans, D.D., & Dinauer, R.C. (1965). Methods of soil analysis. American Society of Agronomy, USA.
8. Cassan, F., & Diaz-Zorita, M. (2016). Azospirillum in current agriculture: From the laboratory to the field. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 103, 117-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.08.020
9. Cheema, M.A., Farhad, W., Saleem, M.F., Khan, H.Z., Vahid, M.A., Rasul, F., & Hammad, H.M. (2010). Nitrogen management strategies for sustainable maize production. Journal of Crop and Environment, 1(1), 49-52.
10. Chen, X., Zhou, J., Wang, X., Blackmer, A.M., & Zhang, F. (2004). Optimal rates of nitrogen fertilization for a winter wheat-corn cropping system in Northern Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 35(3-4), 583-597. https://doi.org/10.1081/CSS-120029734
11. Dadiyan, A., Khaghaniorcid, S., & Changizi, M. (2013). The effect of nitroxin and different levels of nitrogen application on yield and yield components of maize (Hybrid Maximas) in Markazi province. New Finding in Agriculture, 7(2), 211-225. ‏( In Persian with English Summary)
12. Duncan, W.G. (1984). A theory to explain the relationship between corn population and grain yield. Crop Science, 24(6), 1141-1145.
13. Ertek, A., Şensoy, S., Gedik I., & Küçükyumuk, C. (2006). Irrigation scheduling based on pan evaporation values for cucumber (Cucumis sativus) grown under field conditions. Agricultural Water Management, 81, 159-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2005.03.008
14. Fageria, N.K., Baligar, V.C., & Clark, R. (2006). Physiology of Crop Production. CRC Press, UK.
15. Fan, X., Zhang, S., Mo, X., Li, Y., Fu, Y., & Liu, Z. (2017). Effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and N source on plant growth and N and P uptake by tomato grown on calcareous soils. Pedosphere, 27(6), 1027-1036. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(17)60379-5
16. Fang, Y., & Xiong, L. (2015). General mechanisms of drought response and their application in drought resistance improvement in plants. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 72(4), 673-689. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-014-1767-0
17. Farid, N., Siadat, S.A., Ghalamboran, M.R., & Moradi Telavat, M.R. (2017). Effect of coated urea fertilizer on yield and yield components of sweet corn under deficit irrigation. Journal of Crop Production and Processing, 7(3), 115-128. (In Persian with English Summary)
18. Fateh, E., Chaychi, M.R., Sharifi-Ashurabad, E., Mazaheri D., & Ashraf-Jafari, A. (2010). Effects of chemical and organic fertilizers on some silage chemical properties of globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus). Plant Production, 33(1), 15-31.
19. Fathi, A. (2010). Effect of biologic fertilizer on morphophysiological traits of corn under Darrehshar condition. M.Sc. Thesis, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University of Brojerd, Iran. (In Persian with English Summary)
20. Fereidooni, M.J., Farajee, H., & Owliaei, H.R. (2013). Effect of treated urban sewage and nitrogen on yield and grain quality of sweet corn and some soil characteristics in Yasouj region. Water and Soil Science, 23(3), 43-56. (In Persian with English Summary)
21. Fukami, J., Cerezini, P., & Hungria, M. (2018). Azospirillum: Benefits that go far beyond biological nitrogen fixation. AMB Express, 8, 1-12.
22. Habibi, S., & Majidian, M. (2014). Effect of different levels of nitrogen fertilizer and vermi-compost on yield and quality of sweet corn (Zea mays). Journal of Crop Production and Processing, 4(11), 15-26. (In Persian with English Summary)
23. Hirich, A., Ragab, R., Choukr-Allah, R., & Rami, A. (2014). The effect of deficit irrigation with treated wastewater on sweet corn: Experimental and modelling study using SALTMED model. Irrigation Science, 32(3), 205-219. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-013-0422-0
24. İpek, M., Aras, S., Arıkan, Ş., Eşitken, A., Pırlak, L., Dönmez, M.F., & Turan, M. (2017). Rootplant growth promoting rhizobacteria inoculations increase ferric chelate reductase (FC-R) activity and Fe nutrition in pear under calcareous soil conditions. Scientia Horticulturae, 219, 144-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2017.02.043
25. Jafari, A.A., Connolly, V., Frolich, A., & Walsh, E.K. (2003). A note on estimation of quality in perennial ryegrass by near infrared spectroscopy. Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research, 42, 293-299.
26. Jafarikouhini, N., Kazemeini, S.A., & Sinclair, T.R. (2020). Sweet corn nitrogen accumulation, leaf photosynthesis rate, and radiation use efficiency under variable nitrogen fertility and irrigation. Field Crops Research, 257, 107913.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2020.107913
27. ‏Jat, R.S., & Ahlawat, I.P.S. (2006). Direct and residual effect of vermicompost, biofertilizers and phosphorus on soil nutrient dynamics and productivity of chickpea-fodder maize sequence. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 28, 41-54. https://doi.org/10.1300/J064v28n01_05
28. Jerfi, A., Alavi Fazel, M., & Modhaj, A. (2017). Investigation the effect of different levels of nitrogen and nitroxin fertilizer on yield, growth and physiological indices of maize hybrids (Zea mays). Crop Physiology Journal, 8(32), 121-138. (In Persian with English Summary)
29. Kandeler, E., & Gerber, H. (1988). Short-term assay of soil urease activity using colorimetric determination of ammonium. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 6(1), 68-72. ‏
30. Khamadi, F., Mesgarbashi, M., Hosaibi, P., Enaiat, N., & Farzaneh, M. (2015). The effect of crop residue and nitrogen fertilizer levels on soil biological properties and nitrogen indices and redistribution of dry matter in wheat (Triticum aestivum). Applied Field Crops Research, 28(4), 149-157. https://doi.org/22092/AJ.2016.106752
31. Khan, N., Qasim, M., Ahmed, F., Naz, F., & Khan, R. (2002). Effect of sowing dates on yield of maize under agroclimatic condition of Kaghan valley. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences,‏ 1(2), 140-147.
32. Ladha, J.K., Tirol-Padre, A., Reddy, C.K., Cassman, K.G., Verma, S., Powlson, D.S., Kessel, C.V., Richter, D.B., Chakraborty, D., & Pathak, H. (2016). Global nitrogen budgets in cereals: A 50-year assessment for maize, rice and wheat production systems. Scientific Reports, 6, 19355. https://doi.org/1038/srep19355
33. Meerajipour, M., Dehnavi, M.M., Dehdari, A., Farajee, H., & Meerajipour, M. (2013). Effect of drought stress on some physiological characteristics of four spring safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) cultivars in Yasouj. Environmental Stresses in Crop Sciences, 5(2), 125-134. ‏( In Persian with English Summary)
34. Meriles, J.M., Gil, S.V., Conforto, C., Figoni, G., Lovera, E., March, G.J., & Guzman, C.A. (2009). Soil microbial communities under different soybean cropping systems: Characterization of microbial population dynamics, soil microbial activity, microbial biomass, and fatty acid profiles. Soil and Tillage Research, 103(2), 271-281. ‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2008.10.008
35. Moraditochaee, M., Bozorgi, H.R., & Halajisani, N. (2011). Effects of vermicompost application and nitrogen fertilizer rates on fruit yield and several attributes of eggplant (Solanum melongena ) in Iran. World Applied Sciences Journal, 15(2), 174-178. ‏‏
36. Nada, S.S., Swain, K.C., Panda, S.C., Mohanty, A.K., & Alim, M.A. (1995). Effect of nitrogen and biofertilizers in fodder rainfed upland condition of oriza. Current Agriculture Research, 8, 45-47.
37. Naeem, U., ul Haq, I., Afzaal, M., Qazi, A., Yasar, A., Bari Tabinda, A., Mahfooz, Y., Naz, A.U., & Awan, H. (2021). Investigating the effect of Aspergillus niger inoculated press mud (biofertilizer) on the potential of enhancing maize (Zea mays) yield, potassium use efficiency and potassium agronomic efficiency. Cereal Research Communications, 1-14.
38. Oktem, A., Oktem, A.G., & Emeklierc, H.Y. (2010). Effect of nitrogen on yield and some quality parameters of sweet corn. Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 41, 832-847. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103621003592358
39. Rahmani, A., Nasrolah Alhossini, M., Khavari Khorasani, S., & Khalili Torghabeh, A. (2013). Effects of planting pattern on morpho-phiysiological characteristics and yield and yield components of sweet and super sweet corn varieties (Zea mays var. saccarata). Journal of Crop Ecophysiology, 6(24(4)), 377-388. (In Persian with English Summary)
40. Razzaghi, F., & Sepaskhah, A.R. (2012). Calibration and validation of four common ET0 estimation equations by lysimeter data in a semi-arid environment. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 58(3), 303-319. https://doi.org/10.1080/03650340.2010.518957
41. Romero-Perdomo, F., Abril, J., Camelo, M., Moreno-Galván, A., Pastrana, I., Rojas-Tapias, D., & Bonilla, R. (2017). Azotobacter chroococcum as a potentially useful bacterial biofertilizer for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum): Effect in reducing N fertilization. Revista Argentina de Microbiología, 49, 377-383.
42. Sadeghi, H., & Bahrani, J. (1998). The effects of plant density and nitrogen values on the corn yield and yield components. Iranian Journal of Agronomy Science, 3(2), 1-11. (In Persian with English Summary)
43. Sadeghi, H., & Bahrani, M.J. (2002). Effects of plant density and nitrogen rates on morphological characteristics and kernel protein contents of corn (Zea mays). Iranian Journal of Agriculture Science, 3(2), 403-412. (In Persian with English Summary)
44. Singh, Y.P., Dwivedi, R., & Dwivedi, S.V. (2008). Effect of bio-fertilizer and graded dose of nitrogen on growth and flower yield of calendula (Calendula officinalis). Plant Archives, 8(2), 957-958.
45. Soltani, A., Waismoradi, A., Heidari, M., & Rahmati, H. (2013). Effect of water deficit stress and nitrogen on yield and compatibility metabolites on two medium maturity corn cultivars. International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Sciences, 5(7), 737-740.
46. Sturz, A.V., & Christie, B.R. (2003). Beneficial microbial allelopathies in the root zone: The management of soil quality and plant disease with rhizobacteria. Soil and Tillage Research, 72(2), 107-123. ‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-1987(03)00082-5
47. Tajik Khaveh, M., Allahdadi, I., & Ebrahimi Hoseinzadeh, B. (2015). Effect of slow-release nitrogen fertilizer on morphologic traits of corn (Zea mays). Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences, 6(2), 546-559.
48. Tilman, D., Cassman, K.G., Matson, P.A., Naylor, R., & Polasky, S. (2002). Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices. Nature, 418, 671-677.
49. Wang, Q.K., Wang, S.L., & Liu, Y.X. (2008). Responses to N and P fertilization in a young Eucalyptus dunnii plantation: Microbial properties, enzyme activities and dissolved organic matter. Applied Soil Ecology, 40, 484-490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2008.07.003
50. Zafarian, F. (2002). Investigation of plant density, planting arrangement and nitrogen rates on the quality and quantity of characters and yield in the single cross 704. M.Sc. Thesis. Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiate Modarres University. (In Persian with English Summary)