Impact of Integrated Application of Organic and Mineral Fertilizers on Bioavailability of Phosphorus and Potassium in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Organic fertilizers incorporation to soil has become an imperative need in order to achieve sustainable agricultural productivity. Since, incorporation of organic fertilizers improve soil properties and subsequently increased availability of nutrient particularly phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). A pot study was performed to identify the effect of organic fertilizers on bioavailability of P and K in maize by applying three types of organic sources as farm yard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM) and filter cake press mud (FCP). Five treatments were applied with four replications including T1 as control, T2 as inorganic fertilizers in recommended dose NPK (150: 100: 110 kg ha-1), T3 as FYM (10 t ha-1) in addition to chemical NPK application, T4 as poultry manure (10 t ha-1) also named as compost-I in addition to chemical NPK application and T5 as press mud or compost II (10 t ha-1) in addition to recommended chemical NPK application. The results had demonstrated that all the organic and chemical fertilizers increased plant growth and quality attributes (plant height, plant stem diameter, total leaf chlorophyll contents, leaf are index (LAI), shoot and root dry weight, seed germination %, leaf P %, and leaf K %) significantly as compared to control. Similarly, soil chemical properties including organic matter (O.M %) contents, available and extractable concentration of P (ppm) and K (ppm) in soil also increased. Although, all the organic sources had shown positive results but press mud application performed best regarding availability of K and poultry manure performed best in terms of P availability.