Effects of different fertilizer applications on grain yield and quality of maize under diyarbakir ecological conditions

Corn is of great importance in the production of essential food materials for humans, both globally and in Turkey. Corn grain occupies a significant place in industrial and economic market conditions as a raw material, particularly in the production of protein, starch, glucose, and corn oil. This study was conducted in the experimental field of Dicle University Faculty of Agriculture during the main corn production season of 2024, using P2105, P1410, and M17G17 corn varieties. The quality characteristics of the corn were evaluated in the laboratories of the GAP Agricultural Research Institute and a private starch processing facility.In this study, the average plant height of the three corn varieties was recorded as 228.60 cm. The highest average plant height was observed in the chemical commercial fertilizer (KG) plot with 237.93 cm, with the tallest plants recorded in the P2105 variety at 239.47 cm. Conversely, the lowest average plant height of 224.75 cm was observed in the liquid fermented manure (HG) plot with the M17G17 variety. The average ear height was 102.41 cm, with the highest ear height measured at 108.74 cm in the KG plot and the highest average ear height of 110.00 cm observed in the P1410 variety. The lowest ear height was recorded at 97.80 cm in the control plot with the M17G17 variety The average ear length was 19.96 cm, with the highest average ear thickness of 21.12 cm recorded in the control plot. The maximum ear thickness of 22.13 cm was found in the P2105 variety, while the minimum ear length of 17.52 cm was observed in the HG plot. The average ear thickness was calculated as 4.60 cm, with the highest ear thickness average of 4.88 cm in the KG plot and 4.93 cm in the P2105 variety. The lowest ear thickness of 4.12 cm was found in the HG plot with the M17G17 variety. The average tassel emergence duration was recorded as 70.47 days, with the longest average of 71.67 days observed in the KG plot and the maximum tassel emergence duration of 73.33 days recorded in the P2105 variety. The shortest tassel emergence duration was 67.33 days in the control plot with the M17G17 variety. The average grain/ear weight ratio was 85.40%, with the highest ratio of 87.00% observed in the KG plot and the maximum ratio of 88.50% in the P2105 variety. In the HG plot, the lowest ratio was recorded as 79.30% in the control plots. The average plant moisture content at harvest was 15.39%, with the highest moisture content of 16.34% observed in the organomineral fertilizer (OG) plot. The highest grain moisture content at harvest was 19.47% in the P1410 variety, while the lowest moisture content was 13.20% in the HG plot with the M17G17 variety. The average grain yield per unit area was 1160.97 kg/da, with the highest yield of 1374.25 kg/da observed in the KG plot, and the maximum yield of 1477.47 kg/da recorded in the P2105 variety. The lowest yield was 908.58 kg/da in the control plot with the M17G17 variety. The average crude protein ratio was 9.20%, with the highest average crude protein ratio of 10.52% in the control plot. The maximum protein ratio of 10.97% was found in the P1410 variety, while the lowest protein ratio of 6.80% was observed in the HG plot with the P2105 variety. The average crude oil content was 2.88%, with the highest average oil content of 2.99% recorded in the control plot. The maximum oil content of 3.33% was found in the P2105 variety, while the lowest oil content of 2.40% was observed in the OG plot with the P1410 variety. The average starch content was 72.69%, with the highest average starch content of 73.71% in the HG plot and the maximum starch content of 74.33% recorded in the P1410 variety. The lowest starch content of 71.43% was observed in the control plot with the P2105 variety. The average hectoliter weight was 79.78 kg/hl, with the highest hectoliter weight of 80.70 kg/hl observed in the KG plot and the maximum hectoliter weight of 82.57 kg/hl recorded in the M17G17 variety. The lowest hectoliter weight was 75.87 kg/hl in the HG plot with the P1410 variety. The average thousand-grain weight was 267.18 g, with the highest average thousand-grain weight of 296.36 g recorded in the control plot and the maximum thousand-grain weight of 320.80 g observed in the P2105 variety. The lowest thousand-grain weight was 221.33 g in the HG plot with the P1410 variety. As a result of this research, it was concluded that under the ecological conditions of the Southeastern Anatolia Region, the P2105 variety could be recommended for grain yield, oil content, moisture content, grain/ear ratio, and thousand-grain weight. Similarly, the P1410 variety showed potential for high crude protein and starch content in the region.