Evaluating efficacy of bio-organic phosphate (BOP) for enhancing maize growth
2016
Tariq, D.A.
Phosphorus is an essential macro nutrient and its deficiency affects plant growth up to a great extent. Suboptimal phosphorus (P) availability is a key limitation to sustainable crop production around the globe. Its application accompanies certain losses like fixation and immobilization and eventually unavailability to the crop plants especially in calcareous soil. A way to counteract these losses is to use a combination of organic (Po) and inorganic (Pi) Phosphorous sources. Using a combination of Po and Pi phosphorus source may increase bioavailability of P by forming organic anions that compete for adsorption sites and thus reduce the chances of P fixation. However, the best combination of organic and inorganic Phosphorous sources is still explorable. Also the use of micronutrients in combination of macronutrients positively influence the growth of maize crop. Therefore, an experiment was conducted by applying different combinations of Po and Pi in a calcareous soil on two varieties of maize i.e. FH-988 and EY-77. The experiment was carried out according to two-factor factorial arrangement under Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Standard protocols were exercised for recording growth parameters like chlorophyll contents, shoot height, root depth, root and shoot weight, cob length and weight and P contents in soil and plant. Data were recorded and all collected data were subjected to statistical analysis using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) technique. The results suggested that the combination of both DAP and BOP serves better to provide P to maize crop and to improve plant quality and soil health.
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