PJB-2024-661
Enhanced Maize Productivity in Arid Climates Through Combined Vermicompost and Nitrogen Applications
Rehan Jamil
Abstract
rice. To attain optimal yield, maize cultivation necessitates fertile soil. Soil in Pakistan typically exhibit low level of organic matter and essential nutrients, particularly nitrogen. Consequently, there is a substantial financial burden associated with the use of chemical fertilizers, especially nitrogen-based ones. The application of vermicompost presents a promising solution to enhance soil organic matter content and improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), ultimately leading to increased net returns for maize farmers. A comprehensive field experiment was scheduled for autumn 2023 at Research Farm, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan. This experiment was focused on assessing the impact of vermicompost and mineral nitrogen on maize crops. Three different levels of vermicompost (0-, 0.5- and 1.0-ton ha-1) were combined with five distinct nitrogen application rates (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the recommended N dose). The trial was carried out in Randomized Complete Block Design under split-plot arrangement, with vermicompost assigned to the main plot and nitrogen to the subplots. Physiological and agronomic parameters of maize and soil parameters were recorded. The collected data was statistically analyzed with the help of Fisher’s analysis of variance technique. The results obtained from the experiment showed that 1.0-ton ha-1 was among vermicompost levels and 75% of recommended N among nitrogen rates reported a significant increase in all growth parameters including physiological and agronomic parameters of maize crop, grain analysis of maize and soil parameters. The application of vermicompost 1 ton ha-1 showed 11.64% increase in the grain yield as compared to control (not vermicompost) and 4.68% increase in grain yield as compared to vermicompost applied 0.5-ton ha-1. The nitrogen rate of 75% ha-1 showed an increase in yield by 32.96, 19.94, 11.21 and 2.90% as compared to 0, 25, 50 and 100% of recommended dose of nitrogen, respectively. Highest BCR of (2.39) was recorded from combined application of vermicompost 1.0-ton ha-1 and 75% of recommended nitrogen dose.
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