Integration of Mineral Fertilizer and Poultry Manure for Improving Soil Health and Maize Growth under Calcareous Soil Environment

Abstract

I n Pakistan, maize is the most significant crop next rice and wheat. Maize is called "king of grain crops". Its average production is 3428 kg ha -1 (Anonymous, 2008). Along with grains it is also grown for fodder (Khaliq et al., 2004). In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) it is cultivated in 55.01 % of the total area with 63.01 % of yield production whereas in Punjab30-35% yield is achieved from 38% of the total area. In Sindh and Baluchistan, it is produced with 3% and 5% yield of the total cultivated area (GOP, 2015). Maize production in 2010 in Pakistan was 36581000 tons from 9 lac 81 thousand ha. Maize grains are the source of minerals, vitamins and ashes. It contains fats (5.8%), proteins (10%), starch (72%), sugar (3%) and burning ash (1.7%). It is used for the production of cosmetics, flakes, syrup, alcohol, starch and fats. The origin of maize plant is exotic South USA (Chaudhary et al., 2014). Pakistani soils are Abstract | Pakistani soils are deficient in organic matter. Organic matter in the soil affects soil properties and processes. The adequate carbon level of the soil is 1.29 % but in Pakistani soils carbon is less than the adequate level because of high temperature and low rainfall. Different sources of organic matters such as farm yard manure, poultry waste, rice husk etc. can increase productiveness of soil. Combined usage of poultry waste material and chemical fertilizer improved maize growth and health of soil. This experiment comprised of 11 treatments applied under completely randomized design like, T1 = chemical fertilizers at recommended rate, T2 = chemical fertilizers at half recommended rate, T3 = waste of poultry at the rate of 5 ton/ha, T4 = waste of poultry at the rate of 7.5 ton/ha, T5 = waste of poultry at the rate of 10 ton/ha, T6 = T1 + T3, T7 = T1 + T4, T8 = T1 + T5, T9 = T2 + T3, T10 = T2 + T4 and T11 = T2 + T5. At maturity and different agronomic and yield parameters were recorded before harvesting maize plants. Laboratory analysis for collected soil samples was carried out. Data were statistically analyzed. Results indicated that treatment (T8) produce maximum plant height (115.0 cm), biomass (64.34 g) and root length (27.083 cm) of maize. Organic matter content (1.78 %), phosphorus (16.67 ppm) and potassium (213.0 ppm) concentration in soil was also increased in this treatment.