Nitrogen fertilizer at different levels increased leaf dry matter content
(at all stages) compared with control (Table 4). The highest leaf dry matter
content at all stages was obtained at 150 kg N ha−1 application (18.29%,
23.29% and 24.02%, respectively) while the least leaf dry matter content
was related to control (16.61%, 19.46% and 20.42%, respectively). Similarly,
Magdatena (2003) and Tei et al. (2000) reported that leaf dry matter content
increased as N rate increased. Takebe et al. (1995) reported that increments
in leaf dry weight may be due to a combination of N with plant matter
produced during photosynthesis such as glucose, ascorbic acid, amino acids
and proteins.