Mulching and Synergistic Use of Organic and Chemical Fertilizers Enhances the Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Water Use Efficiency of Sorghum

Crop yields in arid lands are generally low and highly variable because of sparse and erratic precipitation leading to water stress. A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the effect of integrated nutrient management and mulching on the yield, nutrient uptake and water use efficiency (WUE) of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:African journal of agricultural research 2010-08, Vol.5 (16), p.2178-2183
Main Authors: Shaheen, Aqila, Ali, Shamsher, Stewart, Bob A, Naeem, Muhammad Azhar, Jilani, Ghulam
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural Production
Agronomy
Chemicals
Effectiveness
Fertilizers
Nutrition
Science and Technology
Soil sciences
Sorghum
Statistical Data
Water
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Summary:Crop yields in arid lands are generally low and highly variable because of sparse and erratic precipitation leading to water stress. A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the effect of integrated nutrient management and mulching on the yield, nutrient uptake and water use efficiency (WUE) of sorghum. The treatments compared were: control, full N + P fertilizer, compost, manure, ½ N + P fertilizer + compost, and ½ N + P fertilizer + manure. Straw mulch was applied at the rate of 28 g pot-1 to one set of this experiment, while the other set did not receive straw mulch. Mulching gave statistically superior results over no mulch with respect to grain and stover yields, total N and P uptake, and water use efficiency (WUE), and it also reduced total water used. Among the nutrient management treatments, full N + P fertilizer gave the best results, however, it differed non significantly for ½ N + P fertilizer + compost and ½ N + P fertilizer + manure treatments for grain yield, total N and P uptake, and WUE. Difference between compost and manure applied either alone or with ½ N + P fertilizer was non-significant to all the crop parameters mentioned before. It was concluded that when mulch water was used more efficiently, it produces higher crop yield as compared to no-mulch. Similarly, combined use of organic and mineral fertilizers reduced the amount of water used by the crop; still the crop yield and WUE were comparable with NP fertilizer. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:1991-637X
1991-637X