Integration of peach (Prunus persica L) remnants in combination with beneficial microbes and phosphorus differ phosphorus use efficiency, agronomic efficiency and partial factor productivity in soybean Vs maize crops

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient which can increase crop production, plant biomass, economic yield and profitability. The objectives of this research were to investigate the impact of peach sources (PS), beneficial-microbes and phosphorus levels on P use-efficiency (PUE), agronomic-efficiency (AE) and partial-factor productivity (PFP) in soybean and maize crops under soybean-wheat and maize-wheat cropping-systems. Peach remnants (leaves, twigs, stones and barks non-decomposed, compost and biochar) along with three P-levels (50, 75, 100 kg-ha−1) and two beneficial-microbes (PSB and Trichoderma) were used in the experiment. The results revealed that PS had significant effect on soybean and maize PUE, AE and PFP. PUE in soybean and maize were noted differ (25.6 and 28.4%) with integration of peach biochar as compared to compost and residues application. In case of P application highest PUE in soybean was recorded with 75 kg-P-ha−1(22.2%), while in maize PUE was noted with 50 kg P ha−1(33.5%). Trichoderma was promising and observed deviation in PUE for soybean (21.7%) and maize (27.8%) as compared to PSB. PAE and PFPp in soybean and maize altered with PS and highest values for AE and PFP were noted with biochar. Among the P levels, the highest PAE was recorded with 75 kg P-ha−1 in both crops, whereas PFPp in soybean was maximum with 75 kg P-ha,−1 and interestingly in maize it was noted with 50 kg-ha−1. Conclusively, PAE, PFPp and PUE were higher with biochar + Trichoderma + 75 kg P-ha−1 and can improve soybean and maize yield and productivity on sustainable basis.