48. Nitrogen, phosphorus and zinc enhance Maize hybrid productivity and build up soil phosphorus and zinc in Maize faba bean cropping system in semiarid region
Abstract
It is assumed that all of the applied nitrogen, phosphorus and zinc are not utilized by the current crop and may remain in the soil that could be used by succeeding crops. Aim of this study to evaluate the effect of nitrogen (N) phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) on maize hybrid 3305 and soil P and Zn. A two years experiment was conducted at The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan in 2013-2014 to evaluate the impact of N, P and Zn on maize and soil P and Zn accumulation. Three levels of N (150, 200 and 250 kg ha-1), P (75, 125 and 175 kg ha-1) and Zn (5, 10, 15 kg ha-1) along with control were applied to maize. N, P and Zn significantly increased grains ear-1(GE), thousand grains weight (TGW) and delayed days to silking (DS) compared with control. Grains ear-1(GE), thousand grains weight (TGW) was significantly higher as compared to control. Each increment of N, P and Zn increased GE and TGW. Maximum GE and TGW were recorded at 250 kg N ha-1, 175 kg P ha-1 and 15 kg Zn ha-1 across both years. The DS was higher with 250 kg N ha-1, 75 kg P ha-1 and 15 kg Zn ha-1. Soil P content increased from 0.96 mg kg-1 in control to 2.9 mg kg-1in P and Zn fertilized plots, whereas Zn increased from 3.68 mg kg-1 in control to 6.58 mg kg-1 in P and Zn fertilized plots over 2 years. It is concluded that 250 kg N ha-1, 175 kg P ha-1 and 15 kg Zn ha-1 resulted in better production of maize and increased soil P and Zn that could be utilized by succeeding crop.
Keywords: Nitrogen; Phosphorus; Zinc; Maize; Soil P and Zn
