TITLE:
Effect of Composted Rock Phosphate with Organic Materials on Yield and Phosphorus Uptake of Berseem and Maize
AUTHORS:
Amjad Ali, Muhammad Sharif, Fazli Wahid, Zengqiang Zhang, Syed Noor Muhammad Shah, Rafiullah  , Sajjad Zaheer, Farmanullah Khan, Fazlur Rehman
KEYWORDS:
Berseem; Compost; Maize; Residual Effect; Rock Phosphate; Yield
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.5 No.7,
March
26,
2014
ABSTRACT:
Field experiments were conducted to determine
the effect of composts prepared from different organic materials with rock
phosphate (RP) on yield and P uptake of berseem and their residual effect on
maize crop (cv. Azam) during 2011-2012. Composts prepared from RP fed farm yard
manure (FYM), simple FYM, organic waste and city garbage were applied at the
rate based on their P concentrations. Composts significantly (P ≤ 0.05)
increased total dry matter weight of Berseem in first and second cut over
control. Residual effect of the prepared composts was determined on yield and plant
P uptake of maize in the same layout of Berseem. Maximum and significantly (P ≤
0.05) higher maize grain yield, total dry matter yield and stover yield of 3161
kg·ha-1, 9633 kg·ha-1 and 6472 kg·ha-1,
respectively were recorded by the residual effect of compost of organic waste
with half dose of SSP. Thousand grains weight of 220 g was noted in the
treatment of residual effect of compost of RP fed FYM with half dose of SSP.
Post harvest soil N and P concentrations improved with composting. Significant
(P ≤ 0.05) increases in N and P uptake by berseem and maize plants were
observed with added composts. Results suggest that the use of composts prepared
from different organic materials with RP is environmental friendly and
has potential to improve crops yield and plants N and P uptakes for a prolonged time.