Maize (Zea mays L.) is the world’s most cultivated crop after wheat and rice in production of cereal crop. It is also one of the major cereal crops grown in Ethiopia, the crop has wide adaptability. It is very important item of human consumption and is also used as cattle and poultry feed besides being grown to horses and sheep. However inadequate phosphorus application is one of the constraints that limit the growth performance and yield components of Maize (Zea mays L.). Fertilizer has been a major component of improved maize production technologies being promoted by the extension package. Phosphorus encourages plant growth which enhances early leaf initiation and development. The objective of this seminar is to evaluate the effect of different level of phosphorus fertilizer on growth performance and yield of maize (Zea mays L.). The increase in plant height with the increase in nitrogen fertilizer level was due to the positive effect of nitrogen element on plant growth that leads to progressive increase in internode length and consequently plant height. Lack of nitrogen results in stunted growth, pale yellow color, small grain size and reduced yield. It is an essential component of amino acid and protein. The growth of plant primarily depends on nitrogen availability in soil solution and its utilization by crop plants. Yields, number of grains per ear, plant height, chlorophyll contents, energy contents and P uptake efficiency of maize increases at high level of P application; Number of grains per ear, weight of grains per ear, weigh of grains per plot and 1000-grain weight were maximum with this application rate. Nitrogen and phosphorus are very essential for good vegetative growth and grain development in maize production. Generally, Nitrogen and phosphorus has significant effect on growth performance and yield components of maize like; plant height, number of leaf per plant, length of leaves, number of internodes, internodes length and stem diameter.
