Growth and yield response of maize (Zea mays L.) to foliar NPK-fertilizers under moisture stress condition

Improper water and nutrients management are the two main factors that adversely affect the growth and crop productivity under moisture stress (drought) condition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Foliar nutrient management could not only apply nutrients to the hungry crops but it could also be beneficial in terms of providing water to the thirsty crops under moisture stress condition. This field experiment was designed to investigate effects of foliar NPK (2% each) applied alone and in various combinations (N, P, K, N + P, N + K, P + K and N + P + K) and their application time (one split at 30 and 60 days after emergence (DAE), and two equal splits at 30 + 60 DAE) on the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L., cv. Azam) under moisture stress condition at the Research Farm of The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan during summer 2011. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design using three replications. The results revealed that the rest (all foliar treated plots) plots significantly took more time to physiological maturity (88.2 days), produced taller plants (221 cm), higher mean single leaf area (413 cm2), biological yield (10285 kg ha^-1), heavier grains (229 g/1000 grains), grains ear^-1 (376), grain yield (2896 kg ha^-1) and harvest index (28.2%) than the control plots (foliar nutrients not applied). Sole application of N, P, and K in one split (2% each) at the early growth stage (30 DAE) decreased grain yield in maize, while combined application of N+P and N+P+K in one split at 30 DAE or 60 DAE or in two equal splits (1% each at 30 and 60 DAE) increased grain yield in maize. It was concluded from the results that combined foliar application of the three major nutrients (N+P+K) at the rate of 1% each in two equal splits at 30 and 60 DAE increased maize productivity under moisture stress condition in the study area.