Effect of nitrogen and Aztobactor fertilizers on the grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of Moroccan single cross corn

In order to evaluate the effect of different amounts of nitrogen and organic fertilizer (Azotobacter) on kernel yield and nitrogen use efficiency in corn, an experiment was carried out as factorial based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications in the field of Sanandaj branch, Islamic Azad University, Iran in 2014. The factor “a” included four nitrogen rates (i.e. control, 50, 100 and 150% of plant requirement) and the factor “b” included bio-fertilizer at two levels (non-inoculation, inoculating with Azotobacter). The results showed that the effect of different levels of nitrogen fertilizer was highly significant on biomass, kernel yield, number of kernels per row, 100 kernels weight, plant height and Leaf vegetation index and significant on the number of row per ear. Application of 150% nitrogen had the highest effect on studied traits. The effect of factor b was highly significant on biomass, kernel yield, 100 kernels weight, poor tip fill length and Leaf vegetation index and significant on number of kernels per row and plant height. The means of these traits were higher when Azotobacter fertilizer treatment was not applied. The nitrogen fertilizer × Azotobacter interaction was not significant for any of the studied traits. Nitrogen use efficiency increased with increasing N fertilizer, but there was very little difference between consumption of 150 and 225 kg N/ha.