Applications in sustainable production

Abstract

Major factors that contribute to the yield responses of groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) to fertilizer and physico‐chemical properties were to be derived and identified; the experiments were conducted on eight Philippine soils (Alfisol, two Andisols, Entisol, two Inceptisols, Ultisol and Vertisol) collected from different places on Luzon Island. These soils were placed in 10m x 20m x 0.5m concrete frames (soil tank). Groundnut and maize were grown under the same agronomic conditions during 1995–1996. Results showed that groundnut yields were positively correlated to fertilizer nitrogen, soil nitrogen and soil extractable phosphate but negatively to soil pH; Groundnut yield (t ha‐1) = 6.238 + 0.007 x N (kg ha‐1) + 2.615 x T‐N (%) + 0.002 x Extr. P (mg kg‐1) ‐ 0.591 x pH, (R2 0.74). For maize, fertilizer nitrogen and phosphate and soil nitrogen contributed positively to the yield, but negatively with soil pH and exchangeable magnesium; maize yield (t ha‐1) = 4.348 + 0.029 x N (kg ha‐1) + 0.037 x P (kg ha‐1) + 9.956 x T‐N (%) ‐0.522 x pH ‐ 0.072 Exch. Mg (cmol kg‐1), (R2= 0.87).