Effect of desicator amended with molasses on decomposition of wheat residues and its effect on maize production

Crop residues are not a waste but useful natural resources. Incorporation and management of crop residues have a direct impact on crop productivity and plant health. The biological, physiochemical properties of soil and microbial community, soil structure and function disrupt due to hardness of soil surface and environmental pollution caused by burning of wheat residues after harvesting. Soil management practices including tillage, burning of stubbles and crop rotation influence the amount and quality of organic matter. Management of stubbles with proper way improved the soil properties and protects the soil from erosion. The stubble management techniques have increased in recent years like burning and physical removing but we used desiccators with molasses to decompose wheat residues and their easily incorporation into soil. A field experiment was conducted at research area of Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad to check the effect of desiccators amended with molasses to decompose wheat residues and its effect on subsequent maize production. Treatment plan was consist of burning, control, desiccators and molasses with different rates. Treatments were layout according to randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. After harvesting of wheat crop molasses and desiccators was applied on wheat residues uniformly according to treatment plan before ploughing. Autumn maize crop was sown after incorporation of residues into the soil. Results revealed that maize plant height, cob length, chlorophyll contents, 1000 grains weight, grain yield, biological yield and NPK concentration in straw and grain increased by 48, 40.9, 42.8, 38.5, 65.9, 78.2, 64, 52.6, 59.5, 51.5, 61.1 and 50% respectively over burning. In short wheat stubble management by desiccators along with molasses is a novel approach and enhanced growth and yield of succeeding crop. Recommended rates of fertilizer were applied and data was recorded followed by appropriate statistical approach.