07. Phenological traits of Maize influenced by integrated management of compost and fertilizer Nitrogen
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Abstract
Compost is mixture of organic residues contain animal dung and urine along with other residues, such as fodder ruminant, stubble, weeds and leaves. Composted organic material can be used as a source of important nutrients for sustainable crop productivity. Fertilization of maize with nitrogen is one of the most important management practice which affects growth and yield of the crop. Alternative forms of fertilizers such as manures (farmyard manures, composts, and green manures, liquid manure) can be used as sources of plant nutrients and at the same time increase N use efficiency and crop yield. Therefore the investigated study was designed to evaluate the response of maize to integrated management of compost type and Fertilizer-N a field trial was carried out at Agronomy Research Farm the University of Agriculture, Peshawar during kharif season 2012. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) having three replications and a plot size of 18m2 (4m x 4.5m) having 6 rows with 75 cm apart. All plots except control (no compost) were treated 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 were recorded on days to emergence, days to tasseling, days to silking, days to maturity and plant height. Results revealed that compost type significantly affected all parameters except days to maturity. Minimum days to emergence (6 days) were recorded in control, days to tasseling (56 days) in legume and days to silking (60 days) in FYM based compost with and without Nitrogen respectively. Optimum plant height (255 cm) was recorded in FYM 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 optimum growth and phenology of maize, and thus is recommended for general cultivation in agro-climatic conditions of Peshawar.
Keywords: Maize (Zea mays L.); Compost types; Nitrogen; Growth and phenology