Effects of formula fertilizer on physiological growth and yield of drip irrigation maize

【Objective】 To study the effect of formula fertilization on the physiological growth and yield of maize under drip irrigation in Southern Xinjiang. 【Methods】 Xinyu No. 31 was taken as the test material, a multi-point comparison and repeated test design was adopted. The test was set up with 4 treatments: (1) Formula fertilization treatment (OPT); N 15 kg/667m², P₂O₅ 11.5 kg/ 667m², K₂O 6 kg/667m²; (2) Formula fertilization without nitrogen treatment (OPT-N); N 0 kg/667m², P₂O₅ 11.5 kg/667m², K₂O 6 kg/667m²; (3) Formula fertilization without phosphorus treatment (OPT -P); N 15 kg/667m², P₂O₅ 0 kg/667m², K₂O 6 kg/667m²; (4) Formula fertilization without potassium treatment (OPT-P), N 15 kg/667m², P₂O₅ 0 kg/667m², K₂O 0 kg/667m², and then the effects of different formula fertilization on the agronomic traits, photosynthetic characteristics (net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci)), yield and fertilizer of drip irrigation corn were analyzed, including the changes in utilization efficiency. 【Results】 (1) Formula fertilization showed the best effect on plant height, leaf area, photosynthetic characteristics and yield of maize in general. (2) Compared with formula fertilization without nitrogen treatment, formula fertilization without phosphorus treatment, formula fertilization without potassium treatment, the economic benefits were 602.4, 316.8 and 220.8 yuan/667m² respectively. (3) There was a linear relationship between corn yield and net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, plant height, ear height, ear length, ear diameter, and bald tip length. Ear diameter and length of bald tip were also highly correlated with the yield. Net photosynthetic rate, ear length, ear diameter and length of bald tip could reflect its yield to a certain extent, while other indicators had correlations, they were not representative. 【Conclusion】 The technical combination of N 15 kg/mu, P₂O₅ 11.5 kg/mu and K₂O 6 kg/mu can be used as a cost-saving and efficient formula fertilization scheme for corn in southern Xinjiang.