Effect of Mucuna green manure and inorganic fertilizer, Urea Nitrogen sources and application rates on harvest index of maize (Zea Mays L.)

Abstract

Maize yield in Kenya is constrained by inadequate supply of nitrogen and these is need to search for locally available and potentially low-cost sources. Nitrogen is one of the most deficient elements in the highly weathered tropical and subtropical soils. The nutrient is essential for maize growth and development as it plays a number of functions in the plant. Nitrogen-utilization efficiency of maize cultivars has been identified as the most important component of N efficiency and could be predicted from harvest index. Despite its importance, maize harvest index (HI) attributed to application of mucuna green manure and inorganic fertilizer has not been exhaustively described to facilitate comparison of the two N sources...