Yield and quality response of maize hybrids to composted poultry manure at three irrigation levels

Application of poultry manure in agricultural fields is potentially beneficial to agro-ecosystems, but challenging due to its excessive moisture, bad odor, transportation, inconsistent nutrient contents and phytotoxic substances, which may adversely affect the health of those who handle it. Composting as an agricultural best management practices (BMPs), could overcome the above issues. Field experiments were carried out in 2010 and 2011 under semi-aired conditions of Pakistan at the Agronomic Research Area of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad to study the effects of different rates of composted poultry manure (CPM) and levels of irrigation on maize yield and quality supported with an economic analysis. One drought tolerant and one sensitive maize hybrid (H1 = Monsanto-919 and H2 = FH-810, respectively) were sown with three rate of CPM levels (L1= control with recommended NPK, L2 = 8, L3 = 10 and L4 = 12 t per ha CPM) under three irrigation levels (I1 = 300, I2 = 450 and I3 = 600 mm). Statistical analysis revealed that H1 showed maximum grain yield during both years (7.70 and 7.98 t per ha respectively) at I3 with the application of recommended NPK. While the grain yield of H1 during both years was greater at CPM than H2 with the application of recommended NPK under I2. In 2011 optimum biological yield equivalent to 18.20 t per ha was recorded in treatment I3H1L1. Grain oil and protein contents were statistically at par in both maize hybrids fertilized with L1 and L4 under I1 condition. The nitrogen uptake was similar in both hybrids under controlled condition. Moreover, water use efficiency (WUE) was significantly enhanced with the application of CPM. The highest net benefit ($1788 per ha) was achieved by recommended NPK treatment; contrarily, the highest marginal rate of return (35%) was obtained by application of 600 mm per ha depth of irrigation water and 12 t CPM per ha.