MAIZE PRODUCTION USING SOIL AMENDMENTS

by MEHNAZ MOSHARROF, MD KAMAL UDDIN, SM SHAMSUZZAMAN & FIRDAUS SOLAIMAN

Publisher - UPM Press

Category - General Novel

Biochar, an ecologically friendly soil amendment, is suggested for large-scale field application for its multiple potential benefits, including carbon sequestration, maize yield improvement, and the abatement of greenhouse gas emissions. A series of experiments was carried out to examine the effects of rice husk biochar or oil palm empty fruit bunches biochar on the chemical properties of acidic soil, CO2 emission, and maize performance. The field experiment was carried out with five treatments set in RCBD to determine the most feasible rate of combined application of RHB and dolomitic limestone with the optimum rate of P fertilizer to get the highest yield and the lowest soil CO2 emission. The influence of RHB, dolomitic limestone, and varying scales of inorganic P fertilizer marked the significant enhancement of soil nutrients, nutrient uptake, and yield of maize relative to only NPK or only dolomitic limestone treatment. Applying RHB at 10 t ha-1 with 75% dolomitic limestone statistically contribut-ed to a similar harvest in a range of P applications from 50 to 100%. The results reveal that 75% dolomitic limestone + 10 t ha-1 RHB + 50% TSP might be the best choice for sustainably increasing maize productivity and reducing P fertilizer requirements while reducing soil CO2 emission.

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