Effect Of Different Levels Of Phosphorus Applied With Biochar And Poultry Manure On Maize Yield And Phosphorus Use Efficiency

Abstract

To investigate the effects of different rates of P application in the combination of biochar and poultry manure on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of maize (Zea mays L.) a field experiment was carried out. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications with the following treatments: control and combinations of phosphorus (0, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha-1), biochar (10 t ha-1) and poultry manure (10 t ha-1). There was a significant difference between treatments and the best treatment was T8, which was 120 kg ha-1 Phosphorus, without any application of poultry manure, with 10 t ha-1 biochar. T8 recorded the highest plant height (205 cm), biological yield (11022 kg ha-1), grain yield (4552 kg ha-1) and cob weight (208.3 g). It also achieved the maximum thousand grain weight (297 g), nitrogen content in straw (0.87%) and grain (1.96%), total nitrogen uptake (145.45 kg ha-1), total Phosphorus uptake (51.59 kg ha-1) and total potassium uptake (105.82 kg ha-1). The highest Phosphorus use efficiency (51.44) was observed in treatment T8. The results indicate that the combined use of 120 kg ha-1 phosphorus and 10 t ha-1 biochar markedly boosts maize productivity and nutrients accumulation and should be recommended to enhance yield of maize under similar agro-ecological zones.