Increasing Biomass And Availability Of Micronutrient In Maize Using Goat And Cow Manures

Abstract

Organic manure not only enriched with nutrients but it also provides organic matter, which is more useful for enhancement of crop productivity as well nutritional status of nutrient deprived soils. A greenhouse experiment was conducted at the Department of Soil Science, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences, Uthal Lasbela during 2019-20, to assess the effect of various rates of goat and cow manure alone on the availability of micronutrients. Experimental layout included 20 plots with one cultivar i.e., “CV. Akbar” of maize variety was organized into Complete Randomized Design (CRD) having five treatments and replicated three times. Results indicated that significantly maximum values of EC (1.65 dsm^-1), pH (8.19), organic matter (1.65 %), total nitrogen (0.15 g kg^-1), available phosphorus (20.30 mg kg^-1), available potassium (119.30 mg kg^-1), available copper (11.00 mg kg^-1), available manganese (37.00 mg kg^-1), available iron (52.00 mg kg^-1), available zinc (37.00 mg kg^-1), fresh plant weight (95 g), dry plant weight (74 g), fresh root weight (12.33 g), dry root weight (2.66 g), plant height (114 cm), number of green leaves (10.33), number of dry leaves (6.66), stem girth (15.7 cm) and leaf area index (14.66 cm) was recorded in maize crop at the rate of cow manure 5%. While, lower values of EC (1.29 dsm^-1), pH (7.40), organic matter (0.93 %), total nitrogen (0.03 g kg^-1), available phosphorus (7.41 mg kg^-1), available potassium (73.82 mg kg^-1), available copper (5.50 mg kg^-1), available manganese (24.00 mg kg^-1), available iron (35.00 mg kg^-1), available zinc (8.00 mg kg^-1), fresh plant weight (33 g), dry plant weight (15.66 g), fresh root weight (3 g), dry root weight (1 g), plant height (45.6 cm), number of green leaves (3.33), number of dry leaves (2.66), stem girth (7.69 cm) and leaf area index (5.53 cm). It was conclusively registered that addition of organic manure provided all essential organic and micro- nutrients to plant. Organic manure enriched will all essential minerals is leastexpensive and alternative management strategy as compared to inorganic nutrient supplementationto soil for maintenance of sustainable agriculture and soil conservation.