01. Integrated management of compost type and fertilizer-N in Maize
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Abstract
To study the integrated management of compost type and Fertilizer-N on maize a field trial was carried out at New Developmental Farm of The University of Agriculture Peshawar, during summer 2012. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design having three replications and a plot size of 18m2 (4m x 4.5m) having 6 rows 75 cm apart. All plots except control (no compost) were supplied with compost from 3 various sources .i.e. cereal, legume and FYM in such a way that 150 kg N ha-1 was ensured based on nitrogen concentration. These plots either were supplemented with half of recommended N .i.e. 75 kg ha-1 from fertilizer (urea) or without fertilizer-N. Phosphorus was supplied at the rate of 75 kg ha-1. Data was recorded on grains ear-1, ear plant-1, thousand grain weight and grain yield. Compost type significantly affected all parameters. Higher ears plant-1 (1.2) and thousand grain weight (254.33 g) was recorded in FYM compost. Higher grains ear-1 (297) and grain yield (5941 kg ha-1) were recorded in legume compost. Mineral nitrogen were non-significant for all parameters. It was concluded from the data, that legume and FYM based composts either supplemented with N or not, had resulted in compost optimum yield of maize, and thus is recommended for general cultivation in agro-climatic conditions of Peshawar.
Keywords: Maize (Zea mays L.); Compost types; Nitrogen; Yield and yield components