Effect of organic fertilizer application on soil physical properties and maize yield
2018
Pinca, Y.M.M.
The effects of organic fertilizer on selected soil physical properties and its consequence to maize yield was observed from 0-15 cm soil depth of a field with dominantly clayey soil. The treatments were non-treated control, conventional fertilizer (urea at 130.67 kg/ha + complete fertilizer at 428.67 kg/ha), organic fertilizer (vermicompost at 6 tons/ha), and a 50%-50% mix of inorganic-organic fertilizer (complete fertilizer at 214.33 kg/ha + vermicompost at 3 tons/ha). Fertilizer treatments were applied for two consecutive cropping seasons before measurements of the soil physical properties were taken. Maize (IPB Var 6) yield of the site for the 2017 wet cropping season was also considered. Organic fertilizer did not have a significant effect (p=0.05) on the soil texture and soil densities (mean particle density, total wet bulk density, and dry bulk density) at 0-15 cm soil depth. However, it was observed to cause an apparent increase in total porosity and void ratio compared with the non-treated control. It also significantly decreased (p=0.05) soil resistance to penetration. The increase in total porosity and void ratio of organic-fertilizer treated soil agreed with the higher volumetric-basis available water capacity compared with the non-treated control. The data of the soil physical properties could be used as base data and initial characterization for long-term monitoring of corn and the soil health of the cropping area.
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