Evaluation Correlation between Traits and Stepwise Regression of Corn Affected Different Level of Chemical and Biological Fertilizer under Warm and Dry Climate Conditions

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The combined use of chemical and biological fertilizers is recommended due to the reduction in the cost of chemical inputs, alignment with sustainable agriculture goals, and prevention of environmental pollution.

OBJECTIVES: Current study was done to assess the effect of Fertilizer and biological fertilizer on grain yield, its components and morphological traits of Corn.

METHODS: This research was done via split plot experiment based on randomized complete blocks design during 2016 with three replications. The main factor included chemical fertilizers and manure (C₁: 100%, C₂: 50%, C₃: 25% NPK according recommended consumption amount and C₄: Animal manure [Cow manure]). The sub factor consisted three types of biological fertilizer (B₁: Control [none inoculation], B₂: Seed inoculation with a mixture of biological fertilizers such as Peta Barvar2, Phosphate Barvar2 and Azotobacter Barvar2, B₃: Seed inoculation with a mixture of biological fertilizers such as Peta Barvar2, Phosphate Barvar2 and Azotobacter Barvar2 and Aspergillus niger).

RESULT: According result of analysis of variance effect of different level of chemical fertilizers and manure (instead number of leaf up of ear, 1000-grain weight and harvest index), biological fertilizer (instead number of leaf up of ear, leaf area index and biological yield) on all measured traits was significant but interaction effect of treatments (instead cob diameter) on all measured traits was not significant. The traits of biological yield (0.85^**), number of grain per row (0.84^**), number of grain per ear (0.78^**), 1000-grain weight (0.83^**) and ear length (0.72^**), ear diameter (0.70^**), cob diameter (0.69^**), number of active leaf per plant (0.68^**) and leaf area index (0.68^**) had significant correlation with grain yield at 1% probability level, also harvest index (0.52^*) and dry matter (0.51^*) had significant correlation with grain yield at 5% probability level.

CONCLUSION: According results of stepwise regression, traits of number of grains per row, leaf area index, and ear diameter were identified as the most effective traits determining grain yield. Corn grain yield changed with decrease or increase in these traits due to changes in the amount of chemical fertilizer, Cow manure and biofertilizer application.