Maize response to soil properties improved with beneficial microbes, humic acid and farmyard manure application
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: To avoid environmental pollution, the useful and safe disposal of farmyard manure (FYM) was assessed during a two-year (2017 and 2018) field experiment using beneficial microbes (BM): 25 and 50 L ha -1 , humic acid (HA): 3, 6 and 9 kg ha -1 , and FYM: 10, 15 and 20 Mg ha -1 compared with a control (without BM, HA or FYM).Doubling the amount of BM from 25 to 50 L ha -1 delayed phenological events of maize (Zea mays L.) by one day, decreased soil total nitrogen (N tot ) content (12.6%) but improved soil bulk density (BD) (1.25 Mg m -3 ), electrical conductivity (EC) (1.90 dS m -1 ) and mineral N (N min ) content (33.89 mg kg -1 soil).Increasing HA application from 3 to 9 kg ha -1 , physiological maturity of maize delayed by 2 days but increased soil EC (0.11 dS m -1 ), BD (1.63%), N min (12.94%) and decreased soil N tot (34.42%) content.With the FYM level increasing from 10 to 20 Mg ha -1 , the phenological events were delayed, but soil properties, i.e., pH (-0.3 unit), EC (6.66%), BD (-5.83%),N min (28.14%) and N tot (30.16%) content, were improved.Soil properties like EC and N tot and N min contents showed significant positive correlation with maize leaf area, grain N content and grain yield.It was concluded that with addition of either 50 L ha -1 BM or 6-9 kg ha -1 HA, FYM mineralization increased, growth periods prolonged and soil fertility indices improved.Thus, for improving the N min availability and prolonged maize phenological duration for maximizing productivity, 20 Mg ha -1 FYM should be applied in combination with 50 L ha -1 BM and/or 6 kg ha -1 HA.
Source: Zemdirbyste-Agriculture
Authors: Izaz Hussain, Ahmad Khan, Habib Akbar, Zahid Hussain
Institution: The University of Agriculture, Peshawar
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4200069252