Skip to content

Growth, yield and nutrient-use responses of drought-tolerant maize varieties to sowing date and fertilizer microdosing in northern Benin

Mouiz W. I. A. Yessoufou, Pierre G. Tovihoudji, Sissou Zakari, P. B. Irénikatché Akponikpè

PLoS One October 28, 2026 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0361710 (opens in new tab)

Relevant Not relevant

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Strip split-plot field trial Peer reviewed
Population Rainfed maize crops; five maize varieties under three sowing dates and five fertilizer treatments
Interventions MD2 TZE 2008Syn 2000Syn)
Dose MD1: 25 kg N + 4 kg P ha-1; MD2: 25 kg N + 8 kg P ha-1; MD3: 35 kg N + 8 kg P ha-1; RR: 76 kg N + 13 kg P ha-1
Duration Two-year trial
Topics Microdosing
Key findings Late sowing reduced maize grain yield by 10.2% and early sowing increased it by 9.9% versus normal sowing. Drought-tolerant varieties out-yielded the drought-susceptible DMR by 12.5% to 37.8%, and all fertilizer treatments raised yield 153.3% to 247.2% over the unfertilized control. The authors conclude that drought-tolerant varieties and fertilizer microdosing independently improved average productivity.

Abstract

Changing sowing dates has been a farming low-cost strategy to mitigate climate induced water stress during the juvenile stage of crops. This study evaluates the potential of drought-tolerant maize varieties and fertilizer microdosing to enhance maize productivity under different sowing dates in rainfed conditions. We conducted a two-year strip split-plot trial with three sowing dates (early, normal, and late), five maize varieties (DMR, TZEE, TZE, 2008Syn, and 2000Syn) and five fertilizer treatments (control: no fertilizer, three microdosed rates MD1: 25 kg N + 4 kg P ha -1 , MD2: 25 kg N + 8 kg P ha -1 , MD3: 35 kg N + 8 kg P ha -1 , and the recommended rate RR: 76 kg N + 13 kg P ha -1 ). DMR is a drought-susceptible variety; and TZEE, TZE, 2008Syn, and 2000Syn are drought-tolerant. Results show that grain yield was 9.9% higher and 10.2% lower under early and late sowing, respectively, compared to normal sowing. Grain yield was 29.9, 37.8, 26.5 and 12.5% higher under TZEE, TZE, 2008Syn, and 2000Syn, respectively compared to DMR; and 153.3, 200.9, 247.2 and 220.8% under MD1, MD2, MD3 and RR, respectively compared to control. DMR achieved its highest mean grain yield under the recommended fertilizer rate, whereas the drought-tolerant varieties achieved their highest mean yields under MD3. The findings confirm that late sowing reduced maize performance, while drought-tolerant varieties and fertilizer microdosing independently improved average productivity.

Comparable studies

Other non-randomized and open-label trials on microdosing, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
An open-label pilot trial assessing tolerability and feasibility of LSD microdosing in patients with major depressive disorder (LSDDEP1). Patients with major depressive disorder meeting DSM-5 criteria 2023 Open-label pilot trial n = 20
LSD microdosing in major depressive disorder: results from an open-label trial Participants with major depressive disorder, most taking antidepressant medication 2025 Open-label phase 2A trial n = 19
Evaluating the Potential of Microdosing 1cp-LSD for the Treatment of Canine Anxiety: A One-Month Case Study. A 13-year-old female dog with severe separation anxiety 2025 Pilot study, single-case study n = 1
LSD microdosing for major depressive disorder: Mood and pharmacokinetic outcomes from a Phase 2a trial People with depression 2026 Clinical trial
Evaluation of different mineral fertilizer microdosing options to optimize the productivity of Pearl millet hybrids (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) in the central groundnut basin of Senegal Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) hybrids and variety Taaw grown in the groundnut-growing... 2026 Split-plot field trial

Citations in the library

Cites 5

Related reading

Explore topics

Microdosing