GROWTH AND YIELD PARAMETERS OF MAIZE (Zea mays) AS INFLUENCED BY N. P. K. (15.15.15) FERTLILZER IN BALI, TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

A field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Agricultural Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Bali, Taraba State to study the influence of N. P. K. (15.15.15) fertilizer on the growth and yield parameters of maize (Zea mays) in Bali Taraba State with following treatments: 150 g, 200 g, 250 g, and 300 g. The experiment was arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and was replicated three times during 2024 rainy season. Parameters measured at different growth stages and at harvest includes: plant height (cm) at 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after sowing (WAS), number of leaves per plant at 3, 6, 9 and 12 WAS, leaf length (cm), leaf width (cm), number of cobs per plant, weight of cobs per plant (g), 100 seed weight (g), and grain yield per plot (kg). The results showed that there were significant variation in most of the growth and yield parameters measured. Treatment 4 showed more variation in the treatments measured. This indicates that maize require N. P. K. (15.15.15) fertilizer for it to perform better. When fertilizer is applied to maize as required, it will improve growth performance of crop leading final higher grain yield.