Effects of Residual Organic Manure and Supplemental Inorganic Fertilizers on Performance of Subsequent Maize Crop and Soil Chemical Properties

Almaz M Gezahegn

doi:10.7176/jnsr/9-22-05

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during 2014 and 2015 to evaluate the effects of residual organic fertilizers with supplemental inorganic fertilizers on performance of subsequent maize crop and soil chemical properties at Field 2, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. In the first season, the trial was conducted by using 4 nutrient management treatment (control, 100% poultry manure (PM), 100% NPK and 50% NPK + 50% PM) in 3 cropping system (sole maize, sole soybean and maize + soybean intercropping). The following trial was conducted by using the first experimental plot. After harvest of the crops in the first experiment, the biomass was left and incorporated manually into the soil before planting the subsequent maize crop. The experiment comprised of 14 treatments, 12 based on the first experiment and two additional treatments for comparison (control and 100% NPK). The treatments were laid down in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results showed that all fertilizer treatments increased growth, yield and yield components of the subsequent maize crop. However, incorporation of maize residue alone was ineffective in increasing yield of the subsequent maize crop. The combination of crop residue with residual PM enhanced soil pH, organic matter and nutrient availability in the soil. The combined application of soybean residue + 50% residual PM + 50% phosphorous and potassium (PK) fertilizer and soybean residue + 100% PK gave maize yield same level as 100% NPK. Therefore, it can be recommended that substitution of 50% inorganic fertilizer with residual PM and substitution of N fertilizer in soybean residue is recommended to increase yield of maize and improve soil chemical properties. Keywords: crop residue, NPK fertilizer, poultry manure, residue, yield DOI : 10.7176/JNSR/9-22-05 Publication date: November 30 th 2019

Highlights

Currently, the emphasis has been shifted from individual crop to cropping system as a whole since the responses of the component crop in the cropping system are influenced by the previous crops and the applied inputs (Silva et al, 2006)
Improvement in physical and chemical properties of soil treated with crop residue, residual PM, and inorganic fertilizers resulted in better growth
The highest plant height (203 cm) of the maize under 100% NPK was due to the fact that nutrients released early from the inorganic fertilizer and maize being a destructive feeder could use it for its growth

Summary

Introduction

The emphasis has been shifted from individual crop to cropping system as a whole since the responses of the component crop in the cropping system are influenced by the previous crops and the applied inputs (Silva et al, 2006). The residual effect of organic manure applied to the soil refers to the carry-over effect of the application on the subsequent crop (Silva et al, 2006). Decomposition of organic manure and the release of nutrients are more gradual and stored for a longer period in the soil, ensuring longer residual effect and improved crop yields (Paul & Beauchamp, 1994). Incorporation of crop residues in agricultural soils is primarily a means to maintain soil organic matter which results in enhanced biological activity, physical properties and nutrient availability (Antil & Narwal, 2007). The most immediate effect of residue application is on the availability of nitrogen to the succeeding crop as a result of mineralization–immobilization processes (Hadas et al, 2004). Mainly leguminous residues, have a great nitrogen benefit and reduce the need for mineral N fertilizer application by smallholder farmers and widen their gross benefit in maize production (Svubure et al, 2010)

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Discussion

Conclusion