Effect Of The Sequential Application Of Liquid Organic Manure And Phosphorus On Maize Agronomic Traits And P Uptake In Some Tropical Soils

• Published in: Journal of plant nutrition Vol. 37; no. 7; pp. 1040 - 1055
• Main Authors: Ibijola, Toluwase O., Azeez, Jamiu O., Adetunji, Michael T., Oyekanmi, Akeem A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 07.06.2014; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: agronomic traits; Agronomy; Aluminum; Composting; Corn; Dry matter; Fertility; field experimentation; Field tests; grain yield; iron; liquid organic fertilizer; maize growth and phosphorus uptake; Manures; nutrients; Organic fertilizers; Organic phosphorus; Organic wastes; oxides; Phosphorus; phosphorus fertilizers; Poultry; Poultry manure; poultry manure tea; synergism; Synergistic effect; tea; Tropical environments; tropical soils; Zea mays
• ISSN: 0190-4167; 1532-4087; 1532-4087
• DOI: 10.1080/01904167.2014.881860

Improving phosphorus (P) fertility is challenging in tropical soils because of the fixation of P by soil components. The trial investigated the effect of the sequential application of poultry manure extract (tea) and P fertilizer on maize agronomy and P uptake, through screen house and field experiments. Results indicated that poultry manure tea is rich in nutrients but low in P and could be applied with phosphorus fertilizer to enhance P availability and reduce fixation. Application of P before manure tea produced taller maize plant on the field and the highest P uptake in the screen house and on the field. Manure tea also increased maize dry matter and grain yield. Combined application of poultry manure tea and P fertilizer had positive complementary and synergistic effects. It was concluded that manure tea enhances P availability and reduces P fixation by soil aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) oxides irrespective of the sequence of application.