PJB-2021-31
Evaluating the combined effect of compost and mineral fertilizers on soil health, growth and mineral acquisition in maize (Zea mays L.)
Javeed Iqbal, Ghulam Sarwar, Sabir Hussain Shah, Noor-Us-Sabah, Mukkram Ali Tahir, Sher Muhammad, Muhammad Zeeshan Manzoor, Ayesha Zafar and Imran Shehzad
Abstract
This research study was conducted to sort out the beneficial effects of combined use of compost with mineral fertilizer on soil properties as well as growth and nutrient acquisition of maize. Therefore, after selection of normal soil, 10 kg soil was filled in each pot. For layout of study, 11 treatments with three replications were applied using Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The results revealed that the maximum plant height, plant dry matter (49.32 g), root length (29.58 cm) and organic matter (1.73%) of maize plants were recorded for recommended dose of NPK + compost @ 12 t ha-1 (T8) whereas the minimum plant height, total biomass (23.67 g), root length (14.17 cm) and organic matter (0.68%) were noted in T3 (compost @ 4 t ha-1) compared to others. Maximum nitrogen contents in soil (0.087%), phosphorus concentration in soil (16.67 ppm), potassium concentration in soil (203 ppm) were recorded in T8. The highest nitrogen contents of plants (3.17%), the highest phosphorus concentration of plants (1.05%) and the highest potassium concentration of plants (2.80%) were noted for T8. Similarly, the maximum value of nitrogen concentration in maize root (3.11%), the maximum phosphorus concentration in root (0.97%) and the maximum potassium concentration in root (2.78%) were recorded in T8. Alone use of compost and chemical fertilizer remained the least effective, while the integrated use of compost@ 12 t ha-1 and mineral NPK (T8) proved to be the best treatment.
To Cite this article:
Iqbal, J., G. Sarwar, S.H. Shah, N.U. Sabah, M.A. Tahir, S. Muhammad, M.Z. Manzoor, A. Zafar and I. Shehzad. 2022. Evaluating the combined effect of compost and mineral fertilizers on soil health, growth and mineral acquisition in maize (Zea mays L.). Pak. J. Bot., 54(5): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2022-5(40)
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