PJB-2018-1034
Effect of drying-rewetting durations in combination with synthetic fertilizers and crop residues on soil fertility and maize production
Naila Farooq, Ghulam Sarwar, Tasawer Abbas, Luke Bessely, Muhammad Ather Nadeem, Muhammad Mansoor Javaid, Ammar Matloob, Munaza Naseem and Nabeel Ahmad Ikram
Abstract
Alternate wetting and drying boost decomposition of organic matter and various nutrient transformation processes to change the nutrient availability for plant uptake. Integrated nutrient management is important to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers, sustain soil fertility and maize production. Repeated pots and two-year field experiments were conducted to estimate the effects of synthetic fertilizers and crop residues under different DRW (drying rewetting cycles). All fertilizer treatments caused remarkable increase in soil organic carbon (SOC), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), extractable potassium (K), maize chlorophyll content, maize dry biomass and grain yield, especially under 14 days of alternate wet dry cycles. Mung bean straw caused more increase in SOC, AN, AP, while½ NPK + ½ mung bean straw caused more increase in maize chlorophyll content and dry biomass. Maximum increase in soil K was observed with recommended NPK in both experiments. Significant effects regarding C/N ratio and soil pH were noted with the solo application of mung bean straw and rice straw. Maximum increase in grain yield (20%) was achieved with ½ NPK + ½ mung bean straw. In conclusion, integration use of crop straw and inorganic fertilizers with alternate wetting and drying may help harvest better maize yield on sustainable basis.
To Cite this article:
Farooq, N., G. Sarwar, T. Abbas, L. Bessely, M.A. Nadeem, M.M. Javaid, A. Matloob, M. Naseem and N.A. Ikram. 2020. Effect of drying-rewetting durations in combination with synthetic fertilizers and crop residues on soil fertility and maize production. Pak. J. Bot., 52(6): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2020-6(37)
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