Phosphorus application based on time and different fertilizer’s sources effect on maize (Zea mayze L) productivity in Kiringye site of Ruzizi plain in south Kivu of democratic republic of Congo

Land degradation is a crucial constraint of crop production across the world, especially for the developing countries with low income to invest in good and profitable cropping technologies. Different engagements have been taken by the head of different African states to improve the use of inorganic fertilizers, as a key factor of crop production improvement, but with few successes. The Abuja commitment has been adopted but now it is expiring with few results. In South Kivu from the East of DR Congo, different organizations have tried to disseminate the use of these inputs but the end users are still unpowered. In Ruzizi plain, Phosphorus limits highly crop production. This study was focused on different Phosphorus fertilizers with specific moments of application to improve maize production. The trials have been installed in a split plot design, with the rate of 60 Kgha-1of P205 from three P-fertilizers sources: DAP, TSP, NPK. All the fertilizers were applied two and one week before the planting date and at the planting date. Results revealed that application before planting date gave good yield and plant growth compared to the application at the planting day, as it is done commonly by the few farmers using these inorganic fertilizers. The NPK and the DAP gave good yield (3, 9 tha-1 and 3, 8 tha-1 respectively) compared to the TSP (2, 8 t ha-1). Therefore, it is very important to reduce loses of the nutrients by applying phosphorus some days before plating.