| Pak. J. Bot., 37(4): 933-940, 2005. | Back to Contents | ||||
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Updated: 09-07-09 | ||||
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SUBSOIL COMPACTION EFFECTS ON SOIL PROPERTIES, NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND YIELD OF MAIZE FODDER (Zea mays L.) †WASEEM RAZA, SOHAIL YOUSAF, ABID NIAZ*, M. KHALID RASHEED*, IQBAL HUSSAIN
Abstract: Field experiments were conducted during the years 2003-2004 at Soil
Chemistry Section, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad,
to evaluate the effect of hardpan and NPK fertilizers on soil properties,
nutrient uptake and yield of maize fodder. Three hardpan levels, natural
hardpan broken by chiseling (HP0); natural hardpan (HP1)
and artificial hardpan (HP2) by compacting soil with 10 ton-loaded
trolley, were developed with three levels of NPK fertilizers (half recommended;
recommended and double recommended dose). The results revealed that
hardpan significantly reduced the nutrients uptake and yield of maize
fodder in both the years. Chisel broken hardpan (HP0) increased
the yield of maize fodder 10 and 11% over natural hardpan (HP1)
and 14 and 20% over artificial hardpan (HP2) during the years
2003 and 2004, respectively. Application of highest fertilizer nutrients
dose significantly increased the fresh fodder yield of maize crop in
both years. Lowest fodder yield was 35.6 and 29.7 ton-1 while
highest yield was 40.9 and 35.6 ton-1, obtained during 2003
and 2004, respectively. Maximum nutrient use efficiency (NUE) was obtained
from the field where recommended dose of NPK fertilizer (90-60-40 kg
ha-1) was added, that was 77 and 65 kg maize fodder/kg nutrient
in the years 2003 and 2004, respectively. The effect of hardpan and
fertilizers on nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium concentration was
significant during the year 2003 while during the year 2004 this effect
on nitrogen concentration in maize plants was non-significant while
on phosphorus and potassium concentration was significant. Chisel broken
hardpan (HP 0) increased nitrogen uptake 1.2 and 6% over
natural hardpan (HP1) and 22 and 24% over artificial hardpan
(HP2) during the years 2003 and 2004, respectively.
Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture,
Faisalabad. |
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