Yield Potential of Improved Maize Achieved from Optimal Rates of YARA Crop Nutrition Fertilizers for Sustainable Maize Production in the Semi-deciduous Forest Agro-ecological Zone of Ghana

Wide gaps in maize yield responses to blanket NPK fertilizer application across the agro-ecological zones of Ghana calls for revisions in the recommendation. New fertilizer protocols that focus more on crop nutrition and the supply of many essential nutrients other than just NPK should be tested. This study determined the best YARA crop nutrition fertilizers for optimum maize productivity and economic viability in the semi-deciduous forest agro-ecology of Ghana. Nine treatments consisting of seven different YARA fertilizer protocols, the blanket NPK fertilizer recommendation and a no-amendment control were applied to maize at Fumesua in the Ashanti region of Ghana, in 2019 and 2020. Most of the YARA crop nutrition fertilizers performed better in terms of plant height, leaf chlorophyll concentration and days to 50% tasseling. Days to 50% silking, grain yield and biomass than the blanket NPK recommendation and control in both years. On-field, Treatment 5 (T5) supplied 40 kg/ha N, 16.25 kg/ha P, 31.25 kg/ha K and 6.5 kg/ha S at 2 WAP; half of these rates at 4 WAP and plant growth regulators and doses of some micronutrients at 3 and 4 WAP produced the highest average yield of 5875 kg/ha in the two years compared to 4241 kg/ha from the blanket NPK recommendation. In terms of yield, blanket NPK was only better than the control. T5 and the other four YARA fertilizers were economically viable (Value-to-Cost Ratio>2), while the blanket NPK fertilizer recommendation and two other YARA fertilizers were not (VCR<2). More attention should be given to the adoption of economically viable YARA blends by farmers for improved maize productivity and livelihoods.

Author(s): K Agyeman

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