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 center dot ha(-1)) and four rates of inorganic nitrogen fertilizer (0, 46, 92, and 138 kg center dot N center dot 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. There were significant associations between plant parameters and soil nitrogen contents. The addition of 92 kg center dot ha(-1)center dot N + 10 t center dot ha(-1) compost and 46 kg center dot ha(-1)center dot N + 10 t center dot 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.

Automated summary

The study showed that adding 92 kg center dot ha(-1)center dot N + 10 t center dot ha(-1) compost and 46 kg center dot ha(-1)center dot N + 10 t center dot ha(-1) compost significantly increased maize yield and nitrogen concentration in loam and clay textured soils. The integrated application of compost and mineral nitrogen fertilizer can improve soil chemical properties, increase nitrogen uptake, and enhance sustainable maize production in the study areas.