A Sustainable Approach toward Maize Production: Effectiveness of Farm Yard Manure and Urea N

Maize (Zea mays L.) is grown in north western Pakistan mostly in hilly area, where farmer use farm yard manure (FYM) or urea N for its production solely or in combination. To optimize the FYM and Urea-N for improved productivity, an experiment was carried out using three level of FYM, i.e., 0.5, 10, 15 t ha-1 either solely or in combination with 50 and/or 100 kg N ha-1 and was repeated during next year. A control plots having no FYM or urea N was also included. The management of FYM and inorganic N had a profound bearing on maize productivity and improved yield and yield traits. A linear increase in each yield and yield traits was observed with each increment in FYM at both levels of urea-N. Plants were taller in plots received FYM as well as urea N compared to sole FYM or control. Number of cobs/plants, grains/cob and thousand grain weight were linearly increased with the increase in levels of FYM at both levels of urea N. Plant stalk and grain yield was higher at maximum levels of both FYM and urea N. It was comprehend from the experiment that combined use of organic and inorganic N produce more than sole use of FYM and thus, is recommended for general cultivation in north western Pakistan on sustainable basis.

Author(s): Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Zahir Afridi, Muhammad Airf, Shamsher Ali and Ihsan Muhammad

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