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Pak. J. Bot., 47(SI): 219-226, 2015.

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Effect of rock phosphate and farmyard manure applied with

effective microorganisms on the yield and nutrient

uptake of wheat and sunflower crops

MUHAMMAD SHARIF^1*, MATIULLAH KHAN², M. AZIM KHAN¹, F. WAHID¹, K.B. MARWAT³,

A.M. KHATTAK¹ AND M. NASEER⁴

¹University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan

²Water Resource Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad – Pakistan.

³SBB University Sheringal, Upper Dir, Pakistan

⁴ARS, Chitral, KP, Pakistan

^*Corresponding author address: msharif645@aup.edu.pk

Abstract: Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of rock phosphate (RP) and farmyard manure (FYM) applied with and without effective microorganisms (EM) on the yields and plant P uptake of wheat and their residual effect on subsequent sunflower crop during Rabi 2008-09 and Kharif season 2009. The experiments were laid out according to the Split-Plot Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications with a plot size of 5m x 11m. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that the effect of EM in main-plot was significant (p≤0.05) on 1000-grain weight, grain yield and total dry matter yield of wheat. The sub-plot, where various combinations of RP and FYM were applied also indicated significant (p≤0.05) effects on these parameters. Significant (p≤0.05) interaction between EM applied with RP and FYM was recorded for plant height, 1000-grain weight and grain yield, while non-significant for total dry matter yield of wheat. Plants N and P uptakes and post harvest soil extractable P content improved significantly (p≤0.05) by EM inoculation with RP and FYM and their interactions. The residual effect of EM application was non-significant on plant height, head diameter, grain yield and total dry matter yield of sunflowers, while significant (p≤0.05) for sub plot treatments regarding these parameters. The interaction between EM and RP applied with FYM was significant (p≤0.05) for head diameter, grain yield, while non significant for plant height and total dry matter yield of sunflower. The residual effect of EM was significant (p≤0.05) for N and P uptake by sunflower plants. These results suggest that solubility of P may be enhanced from RP through application with FYM and EM, which has the potential to improve plants N and P uptake and crops yields on sustainable basis.

Key words: Rock phosphate, Farmyard manures, Effective microorganisms, Yields, Wheat, Sunflower