Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer Splitting on Eco-Physiological Traits of Two Maize Cultivars under Normal Irrigation and Stress

To evaluate the effect of different nitrogen splitting on yield and some eco-physiological traits of two maize cultivars (SC 704 and maxima) under normal irrigation and stress conditions an experiment was performed as a factorial split plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main factors include irrigation at two levels: Normal irrigation (irrigation after 60 mm evaporation from Class A pan) and stress (irrigation after 120 mm evaporation) and nitrogen split at four levels (50% after emergence + 50% after 8 leaves, 33% after emergence + 33% after 8 leaves + 33% after appearance of tassel, 25% after emergence + 50% after 8 leaves + 25% after appearance of tassel and 25% after emergence + 25% after 8 leaves + 50% after the appearance of tassel) and cultivar as sub-factor at two levels (single cross cultivar 704 and Maxima cultivar) were considered.Normal irrigation with an average of 10351 kg.ha-1 had the highest grain yield, which was 26% higher than stress conditions. N3 treatment with an average of 9541 kg.ha-1 had the highest grain yield compared to other treatments. Due to the improvement of physiological traits and yield, the use of single cross 704 with N3 treatment under water restriction condition in summer is recommended.