Journal of
Soil Science and Environmental Management

  • Abbreviation: J. Soil Sci. Environ. Manage.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2391
  • DOI: 10.5897/JSSEM
  • Start Year: 2010
  • Published Articles: 314

Article in Press

Soil properties, Growth and Nitrogen Uptake of Maize (Zea mays L.) as Influenced by Compost and Nitrogen Rates on Andisols

Ashenafi Nigussie1, Wassie Haile3, Getachew Agegnehu2 and Alemayehu Kiflu3

  •  Received: 30 July 2020
  •  Accepted: 22 September 2020
A greenhouse experiment was conducted on Andisols at Awada Agricultural Research Sub-center. To evaluate the effects of compost and nitrogen fertilizers on soil properties, plant growth, and nitrogen uptake of maize. The treatments comprised factorial combinations of four rates of inorganic nitrogen fertilizer (0, 46, 92 and 138 kg N ha -1) and five rates of compost (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 t ha -1), laid down in a completely randomized design with three replications. Selected soil chemical properties, growth, yield, and N-uptake of maize were evaluated. The results revealed that both the main and interaction effects of compost and N fertilizer rates significantly affected the selected soil properties and growth, yield, and N-uptake of maize. Significant correlations were observed between plant growth parameters, plant, and soil nitrogen concentrations. Application of 138 kg N ha-1 + 10 t compost ha-1 was the best treatment followed by 92 kg N ha-1 + 10 t compost ha-1, which increased maize shoot dry matter by 185.3 and 179.4 %, respectively, over the control. Therefore, the combined application of nitrogen fertilizer with compost improved soil properties and thereby uptake of nutrients by the plants owing to the synergistic effect organic and inorganic nutrient sources.

Keywords: Andisol, Compost, Integrated nutrient management, Nitrogen concentration, nutrient uptake, Soil fertility decline