Agronomy and Economy: Impact of Tillage and Poultry Manure on Mazie (Zea mays L.)

Hafiz Muhammad Rashad Javeed, Muhammad Shahid Ibni Zamir, Nasir Masood, Rafi Qamar, Muhammad Shehzad, Muhammad Nadeem

Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.
Department of Agronomy, University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan.
Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pa-kistan.
Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pa-kistan; Department of Environmental Science, NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology, Multan, Pakistan.
Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of In-formation Technology, Vehari, Pakistan.

DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2014.56094                

Abstract

Seedling emergence and seedling establishment are two important phases for the good crop stand and final maize crop harvest. A field study was conducted to explore the effects of different tillage practices and poultry manure levels on the seedling emergence, growth, development, yield, and economics of the spring planted maize during 2010 and 2011. Experimental treatments include four tillage treatments (zero, minimum, conventional and deep tillage) and three poultry manure amendments (control (no manure), 5 Mg·ha^-1 and 10 Mg·ha^-1). Seedling emergence was linearly affected as the tillage intensity was increased. Significant relationship of tillage with leaf area index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate, net assimilation rate and total dry matter was recorded during the both years. Poultry manure at the rate of 10 Mg·ha^-1 produced the higher leaf area index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate, total dry matter and grain yield as compared to 5 Mg·ha^-1 and control. Moreover, experimental results concluded that the deep tillage practice has taken less time to start emergence. Similarly, higher values trend of leaf area index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate, total dry matter accumulation and grain yield was shifted from deep tillage to conventional, minimum and zero tillage practices during both years. Economically, the minimum tillage with poultry manure at rate of 10 Mg·ha^-1 gave the better benefit to cost ratio and crop productivity as compared to conventional, deep and zero tillage. The experiment suggested the minimum tillage with poultry manure at the rate of 10 Mg·ha^-1 may ensure the maize grain yield sustainability.

Keywords

Agronomy; Economy; Leaf Area Index; Maize; Seedling Growth; Tillage; Pakistan

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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