Maize Growth in Response to Beneficial Microbes, Humic Acid and Farmyard Manure Application
Maize Growth in Response to Beneficial Microbes, Humic Acid and Farmyard Manure Application
Izaz Hussain, Ahmad Khan* and Habib Akbar
ABSTRACT
The useful and safe disposal of farmyard manure (FYM) is required for avoiding the environmental pollution. However, the bulky application of FYM and slow decomposition limits its widespread application by farmers as a source of nutrients. With the objectives of improving soil mineral N availability and its impact on maize growth, two years field experiments were conducted at the University of Agriculture Peshawar in 2017 and 2018. The experiment included three factors i.e. beneficial microbe (BM: 25 and 50 L ha-1) as effective microbes, humic acid (HA: 3, 6 and 9 kg ha-1) and FYM (10, 15, 20 Mg ha-1) obtained from cattle dung, urine and leftover organic materials along with a control (No- BM, HA or FYM). The required quantity of BM solution (mixed with 1 L of distilled water for each plot) was sprayed on soil surface having HA (applied as mixture with 1 kg soil for each plot) and FYM (soil incorporated with rotavator) one month before sowing. Maize growth contributing parameters (leaves plant-1, leaf area and index, ear length, and plant height) were improved in treated plots than control plots. The application of 50 L BM ha-1 improved maize growth contributing parameters over 25 L BM ha-1. Increasing the application rate of HA from 3 to 9 kg ha-1 had increased leaves plant-1, leaf area, leaf area index, plant height and ear length of maize. Higher application of FYM had improved the maize growth parameters. Mineral nitrogen contents were positively correlated with leaves plant-1, leaf area, leaf area index and plant height as well as grain yield of maize. It was concluded that FYM mineralization increased with addition of either 50 L BM ha-1 or 6-9 kg HA ha-1, which improved the maize growth contributing parameters as well as soil nitrogen status. Thus, 20 Mg FYM ha-1 should be applied in combination with 50 L BM ha-1 and/or 6 kg HA ha-1 for improving the mineral N availability and maize productivity.
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