Effect of Biological and Chemical Fertilizers Application on Yield, Yield Components, Agronomic Efficiency and Nitrogen Uptake in Corn

Application of bio-fertilizers in Sustainable Agriculture perform important role at increasing of crop production and improving of soil fertility. Hence, a field experiment was performed during 2009 growing season at Agricultural Research Center of Hamedan, to study the effect of nitrogen fertilizer rates, i.e., 0, 90, 135 and 180 kg N ha-1; as CF1 to CF4, respectively, and bio-fertilizers sources i.e., without bio-fertilizer, Nitrazhin inoculation and Nitroxin inoculation; as BF1 to BF3, respectively, on yield and nitrogen use efficiency of corn. So, a factorial experiment was carried out based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Traits of number of grain rows/ear, grain/row, grain/ear, 1000-seed weight, grain yield, nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUPE), Agronomic nitrogen efficiency (ANE) and N-harvest index (NHI) were evaluated. Results showed that nitrogen rates had significant effects on all traits. Also, the effect of bio-fertilizer treatment on grain rows/ear, grain/row, grain/ear, grain yield, biological yield, NUPE and ANE was significant. The interaction of N rates × bio-fertilizers sources had significant effect on number of grain rows/ear, grain/ear, grain yield, biological yield and nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUPE). Maximum grain yield (956 g m-2) was achieved at CF4 × BF2 treatment. Also, the lowest grain yield (475 g m-2) belonged to CF1 × BF1 treatment. In general, with application of bio-fertilizers, there was no significant difference between CF3 and CF4 treatments for grain yield. So, it can be concluded that bio-fertilizer application with CF3 treatment, can reduce the N fertilizer up to 25% and increased yield of corn. So, it seems that, this treatment could be beneficial for corn production.