Phosphorus biofortification and uptake in maize enhanced with integrated phosphorus management

Abstract

A limited phosphorus (P) supply restricts crop growth, productivity and seed setting in various crops. Adequate P enhances early maturity and crop quality with a big yield. A consequential two-year (2016–2017 and 2017–2018) field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of peach residues, compost and biochar, three P levels (50, 75 and 100 kg ha−1) and two beneficial microbes (PSB and Trichoderma) on P biofortification in maize and P fertilizer use efficiency (FUE). Experiential findings revealed that among the organic sources, peach biochar was the most promising source for the highest P uptake and bio-fortification. Among the beneficial microbes, soil application of Trichoderma showed extremity for higher grain P content, grain P uptake (GPU) and fertilizer use efficiency (FUE), while seed inoculation with PSB produced higher leaf P content, stalk P content, stover P content, stalk P uptake (SPU) and total P uptake (TPU) respectively. Inorganic P fertilization under 100 kg ha−1 enhanced grain P content, leaf P content, stalk P content, stover P contents, GPU, SPU and TPU, although the highest FUE was recorded under the lowest P rate (50 kg ha−1). Conclusively, it could be recommended that to get maize higher yield and enhance P uptake and bio-fortification, soil application of Trichoderma with peach biochar and 100 kg P ha−1 should be treated under P deficient soil.