Balanced Fertilization of Major Crops in Egypt

The main objectives of this study are to (a) enhance maize productivity with innovative techniques like fertigation, (b) maximize water and fertilizer use efficiencies, and (c) increase awareness and transfer the technology of fertigation management. The field experiment was conducted at the experimental station of the National Research Center in Nubaria District of El-Behrea Governorate in Egypt. The treatments investigated for maize production included: T1, unfertilized control; T2, the recommended N application rate; T3, the recommended P rate; T4, the recommended K rate; T5, the recommended NP rate; T6, the recommended NK rate; T7, the recommended NPK rate; and T8, the recommended rate of NPK+micronutrients.

The results of this study showed that the highest maize grain yield was obtained using balanced fertilization of NPK and NPK plus micronutrients, both of which produced 4.4 t/ha of maize. As expected, the lowest yield (1.6 t/ha) was obtained in the unfertilized control treatment.