Microbial Fertilizer Effects on Grain Yield and Quality Traits of Maize Hybrids

Özge Doğanay Erbaş Köse; Mahmut Baran; Zeki Mut; Yusuf Murat Kardeş

doi:10.15832/ankutbd.1757870

Microbial Fertilizer Effects on Grain Yield and Quality Traits of Maize Hybrids

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a globally significant cereal crop, serving as a fundamental source of food, feed, and industrial raw material. This two year field study investigated the effects of different doses of a microbial fertilizer on the yield, yield components, and grain quality traits of three maize hybrids under field conditions in Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye, during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons. The experiment was arranged in a split-plot design with three replications, where maize cultivars (P0937, P0573, and Sy Andromeda) were assigned to the main plots and microbial fertilizer doses (0 (control), 5, 10, 15, and 20 L ha⁻¹) to the subplots. number per ear, especially under the 2.0 L ha⁻¹ microbial fertilizer dose (MF₂), whereas Sy Andromeda showed higher protein (9.12%), starch (75.08%), and fiber contents (ADF: 5.29%, NDF: 17.05%). The MF₂ dose consistently enhanced yield and quality traits across cultivars and years. Climatic variation notably influenced results; increased rainfall and humidity in 2022 improved grain yield, kernel number, and fat and starch accumulation compared to 2021. Genotype-specific responses to microbial fertilizer doses highlight the importance of considering cultivar × environment × input interactions. These findings emphasize Significant main and interaction effects of year, cultivar, and microbial fertilizer dose were observed on ear morphology, grain yield, thousand kernel weight, and grain quality traits including ash, protein, fat, starch, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Cultivar P0937 demonstrated superior grain yield (up to 19.57 t ha⁻¹) and kernel the agronomic potential of microbial fertilizers to improve maize productivity and grain quality when applied according to cultivar and environmental conditions. Further research is needed to assess long-term soil health impacts and integration with conventional fertilization strategies.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

There is no need to obtain permission from the ethics committee for this study.

Thanks

This manuscript is derived from Mahmut BARAN’s master's thesis

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Agronomy, Fertilisers and Application, Cereals and Legumes

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Özge Doğanay Erbaş Köse ^*
0000-0003-0429-3325
Türkiye

Mahmut Baran This is me
0009-0001-2755-3321
Türkiye

Zeki Mut
0000-0002-1465-3630
Türkiye

Yusuf Murat Kardeş
0000-0001-7144-9612
Türkiye

Publication Date

July 28, 2026

Submission Date

August 4, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 1, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 32 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.1757870

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA46UY84BH

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Erbaş Köse, Ö. D., Baran, M., Mut, Z., & Kardeş, Y. M. (2026). Microbial Fertilizer Effects on Grain Yield and Quality Traits of Maize Hybrids. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 32(3), 748-758. https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.1757870

AMA

1.Erbaş Köse ÖD, Baran M, Mut Z, Kardeş YM. Microbial Fertilizer Effects on Grain Yield and Quality Traits of Maize Hybrids. J Agr Sci-Tarim Bili. 2026;32(3):748-758. doi:10.15832/ankutbd.1757870

Chicago

Erbaş Köse, Özge Doğanay, Mahmut Baran, Zeki Mut, and Yusuf Murat Kardeş. 2026. “Microbial Fertilizer Effects on Grain Yield and Quality Traits of Maize Hybrids”. Journal of Agricultural Sciences 32 (3): 748-58. https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.1757870.

EndNote

Erbaş Köse ÖD, Baran M, Mut Z, Kardeş YM (July 1, 2026) Microbial Fertilizer Effects on Grain Yield and Quality Traits of Maize Hybrids. Journal of Agricultural Sciences 32 3 748–758.

IEEE

[1]Ö. D. Erbaş Köse, M. Baran, Z. Mut, and Y. M. Kardeş, “Microbial Fertilizer Effects on Grain Yield and Quality Traits of Maize Hybrids”, J Agr Sci-Tarim Bili, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 748–758, July 2026, doi: 10.15832/ankutbd.1757870.

ISNAD

Erbaş Köse, Özge Doğanay - Baran, Mahmut - Mut, Zeki - Kardeş, Yusuf Murat. “Microbial Fertilizer Effects on Grain Yield and Quality Traits of Maize Hybrids”. Journal of Agricultural Sciences 32/3 (July 1, 2026): 748-758. https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.1757870.

JAMA

1.Erbaş Köse ÖD, Baran M, Mut Z, Kardeş YM. Microbial Fertilizer Effects on Grain Yield and Quality Traits of Maize Hybrids. J Agr Sci-Tarim Bili. 2026;32:748–758.

MLA

Erbaş Köse, Özge Doğanay, et al. “Microbial Fertilizer Effects on Grain Yield and Quality Traits of Maize Hybrids”. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 32, no. 3, July 2026, pp. 748-5, doi:10.15832/ankutbd.1757870.

Vancouver

1.Özge Doğanay Erbaş Köse, Mahmut Baran, Zeki Mut, Yusuf Murat Kardeş. Microbial Fertilizer Effects on Grain Yield and Quality Traits of Maize Hybrids. J Agr Sci-Tarim Bili. 2026 Jul. 1;32(3):748-5. doi:10.15832/ankutbd.1757870