EFFECT OF NITROGEN AND MICRONUTRIENT NUTRITION ON THE FORMATION OF MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS IN MAIZE HYBRIDS OF DIFFERENT MATURITY GROUPS

Abstract

Modern maize cultivation technologies require the optimization of mineral nutrition systems to ensure the effective realization of the genetic potential of hybrids belonging to different maturity groups. Particular attention is paid to the combined application of nitrogen fertilizers and micronutrients, especially zinc, which plays an important role in physiological and biochemical processes and contributes to the formation of highly productive agrocenoses. The article presents the results of field experiments aimed at determining the influence of nitrogen and micronutrient nutrition on the formation of morphological traits of maize hybrids of different maturity groups under the conditions of the Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The experiments were carried out during 2022–2024 on podzolized chernozem soil using a two-factor experimental design with the maize hybrids Fernando (FAO 260), Lauro (FAO 300), and Akustyka (FAO 350). The effectiveness of urea-ammonium nitrate solution (UAN-30), UAN-30 combined with a chelated zinc fertilizer, and UAN-30 combined with the complex micronutrient fertilizer “Avangard Kukurudza” was evaluated. The results demonstrated that nitrogen and micronutrient nutrition positively affected plant height, ear attachment height, ear shank length, and the ratio index of ear attachment height to plant height. The highest values of all studied morphological traits, regardless of hybrid maturity group, were obtained with the combined application of UAN-30 and the zinc-containing micronutrient fertilizer. The Akustyka hybrid (FAO 350) produced the highest plant height (305.3 cm), ear attachment height (138.1 cm), and ear shank length (11.3 cm). The Fernando and Lauro hybrids also showed significant improvements in morphological characteristics under the UAN-30 + Zn treatment compared with the other fertilization variants. The application of UAN-30 together with the “Avangard Kukurudza” micronutrient fertilizer also improved plant growth, although its effectiveness was slightly lower than that of the zinc treatment. The obtained results confirm the feasibility of combining nitrogen fertilization with zinc-containing micronutrient fertilizers to improve maize growth and development and to enhance the productive potential of modern hybrids under the conditions of the Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.