Maize production often faces challenges, including nutrient imbalances, which hinder its yield potential. This study evaluated the impact of varying foliar phosphorus levels on three maize varieties—Pak Afgoi, Islamabad Gold, and Sadaf Sufaid—under coastal conditions during the 2021 growing season at Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences (LUAWMS), Uthal, Balochistan. Conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications, the experiment applied foliar phosphorus at 1% (37 g), 2% (74 g), and 3% (111 g) concentrations, along with a control. The 3% (111 g) application significantly enhanced maize growth and yield. Sadaf Sufaid demonstrated superior performance, achieving the shortest time to tasseling (59 days), the highest grain weight per cob (82.72 g), the largest leaf area (358.22 cm²), the greatest number of grains per cob (368.25), and the thickest cob diameter (4 cm). Additionally, it produced the most cob per plant (3) and the longest cob length (22 cm). These findings suggest that foliar phosphorus application at 3% (111 g) is optimal for maize productivity. It is recommended that farmers adopt this application level to enhance crop performance, while future studies should focus on its long-term effects and adaptability across diverse agro-climatic regions.

Keywords: Maize, Foliar phosphorus, Coastal agriculture, Yield performance.