Physiological response of maize under different fertilization management under drought condition

This work was aimed to evaluate the development of maize cultivated under different fertilization management, in order to establish an alternative for mineral fertilization. The experiment was carried out in the experimental area of Chã de Jardim, in Areia, Paraíba, Brazil. Six treatments were used with four replications. Plant height, stalk diameter, leaf number, chlorophyll a, b and total, photosynthetic rate, transpiration, stomatal conductance and internal CO2 concentration in the leaf were evaluated. In the 30 days after emergence, superiority of treatments was observed in the plants under chemical fertilization for plant height and number of leaves. For diameter of stalk the treatment organic fertilization + P and K showed superiority. At 60 days after planting the chemical fertilization provided the highest averages for plant height and stalk diameter. For the photosynthetic rate, transpiration and internal CO2 concentration, the treatment that presented the highest average was observed in plants under organic fertilization combined with P and K and N added in top-dressing. For the chlorophyll, the chemical fertilization provided the highest values. Organic fertilization in association with mineral fertilizers provided results close to those observed in mineral fertilization, being an alternative for nutritional management in maize.