Impact of nutrient enriched humic substances on growth of maize and soil health
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Abstract
Development of organic fertilizers is need of time to minimize losses in crop yield and enhance soil quality. Humic substances (HSs) are promising natural resources having a persistent effect on plant growth and nutrient uptake by improving soil nutrient status which could improve soil quality and crop yield for the socioeconomic wellbeing. A pot experiment was conducted at National Agriculture Research Center Islamabad, Pakistan to evaluate the effect of HSs and HSs based nutrient products for improving the growth, nutrient uptake in maize and fertility status of soil. Five HSs based nutrient products namely Product 1, Product 2, Product 3, Product 4 and Product 5 along with control were included in the study in comparison with 75% of recommended of N, P and K as basal dose. All products were evaluated at four levels (0, 75, 150 and 225 Lha-1) of application rate in two factor factorial completely randomized design (CRD) having three replications for each of the treatment. Results indicated that application of HSs based products enhanced plants plant height, stem girth, fresh and dry biomass and grain weight between 132.42 cm to 267.7 cm, 0.96 cm to 1.42 cm, 108.98 g to 346.92 g, 26.2 g to 65.6 g and 53.5 g to 166.8 g compared to control (109 cm, 0.92 cm, 98.12 g, 21.34 g and 43.2 g). Similarly, in response to these treatments applied the nutrient contents were recorded as N increased from 0.52 to 1.94 g 100g -1, P from 0.20 to 0.58 g 100g -1 and K from 1.68 to 2.60 g 100g -1. Post-harvest soil analysis indicated that HSs based products improved the soil properties by increasing the nutrient content and decreasing soil pH as compared to control. It was concluded that HSs based products not only enhanced nutrient uptake and plant growth of maize but also potentially improve the soil quality while saving 25% of the recommended fertilizer use.
Keywords: Crop growth; Humic acid; Nutrient Absorption; Soil improvement