EFFECT OF LEVELS OF APPLIED NITROGEN ON NITRATE REDUCTASE ACTIVITY AND GRAIN PROTEIN IN MAIZE (Zea mays L.)
EFFECT OF LEVELS OF APPLIED NITROGEN ON NITRATE REDUCTASE ACTIVITY AND GRAIN PROTEIN IN MAIZE (Zea mays L.)
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Date
1988-09
Authors
SHEIKH, ALIYU USMAN
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Abstract
The patterns of activity «f nitrate reductase (NR) in
leaves and the development of crude protein in grains (GPC)
were studied in tv/o genotypes of maize (HYBRID 8321-21 and
TZB Farz-21) under four levels of soil-applied N (0, 80,
120, 160 kgN/ha), two N-sourceS(UREA and CAN) and at various
stages of plant growth.
' Plants v/ere raised in completely randomized plots. The
plants were sampled fortnightly for leaf nitrate reductase
activity (NRA), weekly for ear leaf NRA during grain filling,
and at 10 days intervals for grain protein. Results were
analysed using Analysis of Variance for 2 x 2 x 4 x 9 x 3
factorial design.
There were no significant differences in NRA between the
two varietes. The TZB however had significantly higher GPC
at 0 and 80KgN/ha. Urea treated plants had a significantly
higher NRA than CAN treatments, whereas their difference in
effect on GPC was not significant on GPC. In both varieties,
\ both NRA and GPC were found to increase with increase in
soil-applied N-level; the increase being significant in NRA
while it was not significant in GPC at 120 and 160 KgN/ha
regardless of N-source and sampling date, NRA tended to
increase with increase in vegetative growth up to flov/ering
after which it became erratic. The ear leaf contained a lower
NRA than the vegetative leaf in both varieties, and its (ear
leaf's) NRA was not a direct function of N-level. The
difference in GPC at 10, 20, and 30 days after anthesis was
not significant in both varieties but a peak was observed
ft, ;
midway during filling. GPC was significantly correlated
with
NRA at nil the three stages of grain frilling in both
varieties at all sampling dates for NRA, and hence the latter
could be used effectively to predict grain quality in the
two varieties.
Description
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment for the
Award of M.Sc. (Botany) Degree at Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria.
Keywords
EFFECT,, LEVELS,, APPLIED,, NITROGEN,, NITRATE,, REDUCTASE,, ACTIVITY,, GRAIN,, PROTEIN,, MAIZE,, Zea mays L.