Effect of adding magnesium sulfate fertilizer on the growth and yield of three varieties of Zea Mays L.
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted in the autumn season (August 4, 2021) in Dhi Qar
Governorate/Qalat Sukkar District, which is (100 km) north of the center of Nasiriyah city at an
altitude of (15 m) above sea level. The research aimed to investigate the effect of magnesium
fertilization on the availability of nutrients in the soil. The experiment was implemented according to
a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and a factorial experiment with three replicates for
three varieties of yellow corn, each of which was treated with four treatments, namely the addition of
magnesium sulfate (MgSO4.H2O), and at four levels (soil fertilization T1, foliar fertilization T2, soil+
foliar fertilization T3, and control T0). The treatments were distributed across (12) experimental units
measuring (4 x 3) m². Each experimental unit comprised (4 rows, 4 m long, with a spacing of 70 cm
between rows, 20 cm between planting holes, and a spacing of (2 m²) between experimental units, (1
m²) between varieties, and (2 m²) between replicates. (3 seeds) were placed in each hole. Thinning
was then carried out 3 weeks after planting. Data were collected according to the analysis of variance
(ANOVA) table, and the means were tested using the least significant difference (LSD) test at a
probability level of 0.05. The most important results are summarized as follows: The T3 fertilization
treatment (the combined soil and foliar fertilization treatment) significantly outperformed the other
treatments in soil pH, soil magnesium, soil sulfur, soil nitrogen, soil phosphorus, and soil potassium
(6.83 mg, 263.6 mg, respectively). 12.43 mg kg-1 soil, 15.19 mg kg-1 soil, 11.85 mg kg-1 soil, 196.9
mg kg-1 soil, respectively, while the T2 treatment (foliar fertilization) significantly outperformed both
soil nitrogen and soil potassium, giving the highest averages of (17.82 mg kg-1 soil, 171.8 mg kg-1
soil, respectively).
