Les faibles doses d'engrais azotes ne permettront pas d'optimiser le rendement des nouvelles varietes de mais dans la region de Lubumbashi (RD Congo) [ Low doses of nitrogen fertilizers will not allow to optimize the performance of new maize varieties in the region of Lubumbashi (DR Congo) ]

Congolese agriculture is still largely extensive, characterized by low yields. For maize, the yields obtained in rural areas are about 10 times less than the potential of the culture; low soil fertility levels coupled with the use of non-performance equipment are the major causes. This test was installed following a split plot design to evaluate the effects of increasing doses of nitrogen fertilization on the behavior of two varieties of maize (UNILU and Katanga). The main plots included two varieties of maize and secondary plots included different levels of mineral fertilizers (N0 = 0kg, N1 = 30kg, 60kg = N2, N3 = 90kg, 120kg = N4, N5 = 150kg, N6 = 180kg, N7 = 210 kg urea per hectare). The results show similarities between the two varieties and significant differences were obtained with N rates on flowering insertion height, to flowering days and maize yield. However, the analysis of variance indicates that the different nitrogen inputs did not influence maize emergence and its lodging resistance.