Falker Chlorophyll Index and agronomic characteristics of corn

Maize is a nitrogen-demanding crop, which makes it the most limiting nutrient for productivity and usually requires the use of nitrogen fertilization as a top dressing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Falker Chlorophyll Index and the agronomic characteristics of the maize crop at different fertilizer doses. The work was carried out in the experimental area of EMATER in the municipality of Anapolis. The design used was a randomized block design (DBC) arranged in a 2x5 factorial scheme, with four replications, totaling 40 experimental units, consisting of two modes of application for fertilization and five doses of top dressing. Stalk diameter, plant height, Falker chlorophyll index, dry mass and yield were determined. Among the agronomic attributes analyzed, only chlorophyll did not show a statistically significant influence, according to the changes in the doses of N. The application of the doses of N provided an increase in the diameter of the stalk and plant height up to the dose of 125 kg ha- (1) and 100 kg ha- (1), respectively, and the highest values of dry mass and grain yield consisted of the application of 200 kg ha- (1).