Effect of Bio-Fertilizer on Growth and Yield of Two Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars at Shambat, Sudan

Two field experiments were conducted at Sudan University of Science and Technology, College of Agricultural Studies, the Demonstration Farm, Shambat, during two successive winter seasons of 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 under irrigation conditions to study the effect of bio-fertilizer (Effective Microorganisms, EM) on two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars for some growth and yield characters using a split plot design with four replications. The liquid bio-fertilizer levels were (Zero, 06.25, 12.5, 18.75 and 25.00 L/Ha) corresponding to F1, F2, F3,F4 and F5 treatments. The two maize cultivars were HUDAIBA (HD) and MUGTAMA45 (MG). The results revealed that, Plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, 100-grain weight and grains number per cob were increased due to the increase in level of biofertilizer. Also, the aforementioned characters were significantly increased for HD cultivar particularly under application of F4 and F5 levels. Further, the highest grain yield was obtained from application of F4 dose to the two cultivars in the both seasons. This high response of the two maize cultivars to bio-fertilizer could be of a great value in using it in maize nutrition in the Sudan.