Effect of combining organic materials with inorganic phosphorus sources on growth, yield, energy content and phosphorus uptake in maize at Rawalakot Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Mohsin Zafar, M. Kaleem Abbasi

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is a limited resource, and its efficient use is a main task in sustainable agriculture. Due to high costs of imported fertilizers, focus is now shifting to solutions that utilize local resources. We tested the effect of two inorganic phosphorus (P) fertilizer, diammonium phosphate (DAP); triple super phosphate (TSP) and three organic materials farm yard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM), compost (COM) on growth, yield, energy content and P utilization efficiency (PUE) of maize. DAP and TSP alone or in combination with each of organic materials i. e. FYM, PM and COM in combination (50:50 ratio) were applied to supply 90 kg P ha-1. Both inorganic P fertilizers when applied in combination with either organic material significantly increased plant height, leaf area and chlorophyll content over control. Grain, dry matter, biomass yield and protein content increased by 74-101, 43-60, 55-75 and 42-70% over control. P uptake increased from 14 g kg-1 in control to 36 g kg-1 where DAP and PM was combined while increase in PUE was 10-27%. When applied in combination with organic materials, DAP+PM was the best treatment among P sources to be utilized.