Growth, Nitrogen Uptake of Maize (Zea mays L.) and Soil Chemical Properties, and Responses to Compost and Nitrogen Rates and Their Mixture on Different Textured Soils: Pot Experiment

Integrated nutrient management, which primarily involves the combined application of organic and inorganic nutrient sources, is one of the simplest approaches to handle declining soil fertility challenges and increase crop productivity and production. Keeping in view this fact, a pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of compost and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer and their mixture on soil properties, growth, and nitrogen uptake of maize on loam and clay textured soils at the Awada Agricultural Research Subcenter. Treatments comprised factorial combinations of five compost rates (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 t·ha−1) and four rates of inorganic nitrogen fertilizer (0, 46, 92, and 138 kg·N·ha−1 ) laid out as a completely randomized design with three replications. Results showed that both the main and interaction effects of compost and mineral N fertilizer rates significantly affected the selected soil chemical properties and yield, and nitrogen concentration of maize. &ere were significant associations between plant parameters and soil nitrogen contents. &e addition of 92 kg·ha−1 ·N + 10 t·ha−1 compost and 46 kg·ha−1 ·N + 10 t·ha−1 compost was the best treatments for loam and clay textured soils of the study areas, which improved shoot dry matter by 179.5 and 284.5%, compared to the unfertilized pot, respectively. From the results of this experiment, we concluded that the integrated application of compost and mineral nitrogen fertilizer enhanced soil chemical properties and thus improved nitrogen uptake and sustainable production of maize in the study areas.

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Author Nigussie, Ashenafi, Hail, Wassie, Agegnehu, Getachew, Kiflu, Alemayehu
Maintainer EIAR
Last Updated December 30, 2023, 20:25 (UTC)
Created August 7, 2023, 15:30 (UTC)
contributor Nigussie, Ashenafi
creator Nigussie, Ashenafi
date 2023-07-01T00:00:00
harvest_object_id b1c21bb6-1027-4f48-ba8d-7713abc427db
harvest_source_id b7467cdf-8775-49cd-b162-b68283e0d13b
harvest_source_title EIAR Open Research Data
identifier https://doi.org/10.20372/eiar-rdm/FOYFUP
metadata_modified 2023-07-01T06:00:01