Effectiveness of Farmyard Manure, Poultry Manure and Nitrogen for Corn (Zea mays L.) Productivity

Abstract

Two corn hybrids i.e. Pioneer 3062 and Pioneer 3012 were tested with farmyard and poultry manure along with urea in a field experiment carried out on a sandy clay loam soil. The two hybrids differed significantly in number of cobs per plant, 1000- grain weight and grain yield. On the other hand, harvest index remained unaffected by treatments. Hybrid pioneer 3062 performed better with respect to all parameters, except number of grains per cob. Combined use of poultry manure and urea performed the best amongst all treatments.

Full text

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE & BIOLOGY
1560–8530/2004/06–2–260–263
http://www.ijab.org
Effectiveness of Farmyard Manure, Poultry Manure and
Nitrogen for Corn (Zea mays L.) Productivity
TASNEEM KHALIQ, TARIQ MAHMOOD, JAVED KAMAL AND AMIR MASOOD†
Departments of Agronomy and †Agriculture Economics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad–38040, Pakistan
ABSTRACT
Two corn hybrids i.e. Pioneer 3062 and Pioneer 3012 were tested with farmyard and poultry manure along with urea in a field
experiment carried out on a sandy clay loam soil. The two hybrids differed significantly in number of cobs per plant, 1000-
grain weight and grain yield. On the other hand, harvest index remained unaffected by treatments. Hybrid pioneer 3062
performed better with respect to all parameters, except number of grains per cob. Combined use of poultry manure and urea
performed the best amongst all treatments.
Key Words: Farmyard manure; Poultry Manure; Nitrogen; Corn
INTRODUCTION
Corn is a multipurpose crop, provides food for human,
feed for animals and poultry and fodder for livestock. It is a
rich source of raw material for the industry where it is being
extensively used for the preparation of cornstarch, corn,
dextrose, corn syrup, corn flakes etc. In conventional
Agriculture, farmers apply high doses of fertilizers and
chemical plant protection measures to realize high crop
yield. The enhanced crop yield by chemical fertilizers and
pesticides is beyond doubt, however, their indiscriminate
use is causing problems such as soil structure deterioration,
ground water pollution, higher nitrate in vegetables and
some times very high investment which makes the system
unstable (FAO, 1978).
During the last decade, crop yield in Pakistan has been
declining despite increased inputs of fertilizers, pesticides
and due to the use of synthetic or composite varieties, which
have less potential as compared to the hybrid corn (Njeru,
1983). The potential of any variety can only be fully
exploited by judicious use of inputs, proper plant protection
measures and sufficient irrigations at critical growth stages.
So, agricultural scientists are engaged to establish an
agricultural system, which can lower production cost and
conserve the natural resources. Therefore, recent interest in
manuring has re-emerged because of high fertilizer prices
and importance of green manure, farmyard manure and
other types of manures maintaining long-term soil
productivity besides meeting timely requirement of
nutrients. There is also a positive interaction between the
combination of organic manures and urea as nitrogen source
(Bocchi & Tano, 1994). Keeping this in view, the present
study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of corn
hybrids under the combined use of organic and inorganic
fertilizers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A field study was conducted at Agronomic Research
Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, during the
autumn season of 2000. The experiment was laid out
according to RCBD with factorial arrangement having three
replications and a net plot size as 9 x 2.8 m. The treatments
included two maize hybrids Pioneer-3062, Pioneer-3012
and fertilizer levels were control, whole N (200 kg ha
-1
) as
urea, whole N (200 kg ha
-1
) as farmyard manure (36.63 t
ha
-1
), whole N (200 kg ha
-1
) as poultry manure (13.79 t ha
-1
),
half N (100 kg ha
-1
) as FYM (18.32 t ha
-1
)+ 100 kg N ha
-1
as
urea, half N (100 kg ha
-1
) as P.M. (6.90 t ha
-1
) + 100 kg N
ha
-1
as urea.
The soil texture of the experimental site was sandy
clay loam and the chemical analysis of soil is given in Table
I. The crop was sown on 02 August 2000 using seed rate of
30 kg ha
-1
in 70 cm apart rows with the help of a single row
drill. A basal dose of NPK @ 200-100-100 kg ha
-1
in the
form of urea, TSP, SOP, FYM and poultry manure was
applied. FYM and PM were analyzed (Table II) and dose of
P and K were adjusted including quantity of P and K
coming from FYM and poultry manure. Half doses of N
from urea and full dose of P, K, FYM and poultry manure
were applied at the time of second irrigation according to
the treatments. The interplant distance was maintained at 20
cm by thinning the surplus plants at the time of four leaves
stage. All other agronomic practices were kept normal and
uniform in the treatments. The crop was harvested on
November 07, 2000. The observations which recorded
during the course of study were days taken to 50% tasseling,
Number of cobs per plant, Number of grains per cob, 1000-
grain weight (g), grain yield (t ha
-1
) and Harvest index (%).

EFFECT OF INTEGRATED USE OF MANURE AND NITROGEN ON CORN PRODUCTIVITY / Int. J. Agri. Biol., Vol. 6, No. 2, 2004
261
Days taken to 50% tasseling were counted from the
date of sowing to time when 50% plants had completed
their tasseling. Total number of plants and total number of
cobs per plot were counted at harvest. Then average number
of cobs per plant was calculated. The number of grains was
counted from randomly selected sample of ten cobs per plot
and then average number of grains per cob was calculated.
After threshing 1000-grains were taken from each plot and
weighed. After threshing total grain weight was recorded
from each plot and grain yield on hectare basis was
calculated. Harvest index was calculated by using the
formula.
Economic yield
Harvest index (HI) = ------------------------- x 100
Total biomass
Standard methods and procedures were followed for
recording data on growth and yield parameters. The data
collected were analyzed statistically by using Fisher’s
analysis of variance technique and treatment means were
compared by using the least significant difference test at
0.05-probability level (Steel & Torrie, 1984).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Days taken to 50% tasseling. Tasseling is prerequisite of
cob formation and finally the maturity of the crop. The data
(Table III) indicated that corn hybrids had non-significant
effect on days taken to 50% tasseling, on an average this
period extended from 51.50 to 51.78 days. Different
proportions of organic and inorganic fertilizers applied to
corn crop significantly influenced the tasseling period. The
comparison of individual treatment means indicated that
significantly maximum number (52.83) of days taken to
tasseling was recorded when maize crop fertilized @ 100 kg
N ha
-1
as poultry manure + 100 kg N ha
-1
as urea (F
6
) as
compared to F
1
(control) but statistically at par with all other
treatments. These results are in line with the findings of
Amanat (1998) and Farooqi (1999) who also observed that
more availability of nitrogen and phosphorus delay the
tasseling period.
The interactive effect of genotype and fertilizer was
also non-significant and average days taken to 50%
tasseling ranged from 48.33 to 53.00.
Number of cobs per plant. Number of cobs per plant has
great effect on the final grain yield of corn. It is clear from
the data (Table IV) that corn hybrids differed significantly
in number of cobs per plant. Pioneer-3062 showed more
number of cobs per plant (1.13) than Pioneer-3012 (1.10).
The data presented in Table IV reflect the effects of
various proportions of organic and inorganic sources of
nutrients on the number of cobs per plant. All the treated
plots produced more number of cobs than untreated plot.
Significantly more number (1.22) of cobs per plant was
recorded from plot fertilized with proportion of 1/2 urea +
1/2 poultry manure (F
6
) followed by F
2
(1.19) but the
difference between them was found to be non-significant.
Similarly F
5
and F
4
produced statistically similar number of
cobs per plant; whereas, significantly less number (1.01) of
cobs per plant was recorded from control plot. These results
are in accordance with those of Tamayo et al. (1997),
Amanat (1998), Farooqi (1999), Shah and Arif (2000) who
also observed that number of cobs increased with the
increase in the level of organic and inorganic fertilizers. The
reason for such results may be adequate and balanced
supply of plant nutrients. Due to the application of poultry
manure + mineral fertilizer, plants received large amount of
nutrients throughout their growth period and nourished
properly which resulted in maximum number of cobs per
plant. The interaction between fertilizers and hybrids was
found to be non-significant.
Number of grains per cob. Corn hybrid Pioneer-3012
produced more number (463.75) of grains per cob as
compared to Pioneer-3062 (Table IV). The difference in
grain number per cob may be due to variable genetic
potential of genotypes. These results are in line with the
findings of Amanat (1998) and Farooqi (1999) who reported
that more availability nutrients increase no of grains per cob.
Iqbal (2000) concluded that genotype had not significant
effect on number of grains per cob.
Different levels of organic and inorganic fertilizers
also significantly influenced the number of grains per cob.
The treatment F
6
(100 kg N ha
-1
as urea + 100 kg N ha
-1
as
poultry manure) produced more number (484.65) of grains
per cob than F
4
(200 kg N ha
-1
as poultry manure) which
produced 442.84 grains per cob but it (F
6
) was not
statistically different from the plot fertilized with 200 kg N
ha
-1
as FYM (F
5
). While minimum number of grains per cob
was recorded from the plot where no fertilizer and manure
was applied, i.e. control plot. The increase in number of
grains per cob in case of half urea + half poultry manure
was mainly due to more cob length. These findings are
Table I. Characteristics of experimental site
Characteristics Unit Value
Organic matter % 1.13
Total nitrogen % 0.042
Available Phosphorus Ppm 1.00
Available Potassium Ppm 183.0
pHs - 7.70
ECe dS m-1 1.20
Soil textural class - Sandy clay loam
Table II. Chemical analysis of farmyard and poultry
manure
Value Characteristics Unit
Farmyard manure Poultry manure
Nitrogen % 0.546 1.45
Phosphorus % 0.225 0.81
Potassium % 0.613 0.36
Dry matter % 20.00 47.00
Moisture % 80.00 53.00

KHALIQ et al. / Int. J. Agri. Biol., Vol. 6, No. 2, 2004
262
strongly supported by the results of Sharma and Gupta
(1998), Chaudhary et al. (1998) and Shah and Arif (2001).
They reported that available N and P in soil increased with
increase in organic matter.
Contradictory to individual factors the interaction
between fertilizers and hybrid was statistically non-
significant. The number of grains per cob varied from 507 to
397.30.
1000-grain weight (g). Grain weight is an important yield
component. It is clear from Table IV that the corn hybrids,
Pioneer-3062 and Pioneer-3012 differed significantly from
each other. Pioneer-3062 produced more 1000-grain weight
(278.05 g) than Pioneer-3012. These results are in line with
the findings of Rehman (1990) and Iqbal (2000), who also
observed that genetic potential had significant effect on
1000-grain weight.
Similarly data showed that 1000-grain weight was
affected significantly by different levels of organic and
inorganic fertilizers. Maximum 1000-grain weight (291.03
g) was observed from F
6
(100 kg N ha
-1
as urea + 100 kg N
ha
-1
as poultry manure) that was statistically similar to F
2
, F
5
and F
4
which produced 275.16, 275.09 and 278.09 g,
respectively. While minimum 1000-grain weight (244.31 g)
was obtained from control plot (F
1
). The increase in 1000-
grain weight was mainly due to the balanced supply of food
nutrients from both urea and poultry manure throughout the
grain filling and development period. These results are
similar to the findings of Rutunga et al. (1998), Sevaram et
al. (1998) and Ma et al. (1999). The interactive effect of
hybrid and fertilizers on 1000-grain weight was found to be
non-significant.
Grain yield (t ha
-1
). Grain yield is the end result of many
complexes morphological and physiological processes
occurring during the growth and development of crop. Grain
yield in case of corn hybrids differed significantly; Pioneer-
3062 produced more grain yield (5.509 t ha
-1
) than Pioneer-
3012 (5.235 t ha
-1
). Similar were the findings of Ma et al.
(1999) and Iqbal (2000), who also observed that genetic
potential had significant effect on 1000-grain weight and
grain yield.
As regards nutrient resources, different levels of
organic and inorganic sources affected grain yield
Table III. Days taken 50% tasseling and number of cobs per plant as affected by organic and inorganic fertilizers
Days taken to 50% tasseling Number of cobs per plant Treatment
P-3062 P-3012
Mean
P-3062 P-3012
Mean
F1 49.66 48.33 49.00 b 1.01 1.00 1.01 d
F2 52.00 52.33 52.17 a 1.20 1.17 1.19 a
F3 52.33 51.67 52.00 a 1.09 1.05 1.07 c
F4 51.67 52.00 51.83 a 1.11 1.08 1.10 bc
F5 52.00 52.00 52.00 a 1.15 1.12 1.14 b
F6 53.00 52.67 52.83 a 1.23 1.20 1.22 a
Mean 51.778 51.50 ns 1.13 a 1.10 b -
ns= Non-significant; Figure sharing same letter did not differ significantly
Table IV. Number of grains per cob and 1000-grain weight (g) as affected by organic and Inorganic fertilizers
Number of grains per cob 1000 grain weight (g) Treatment
P-3062 P-3012
Mean
P-3062 P-3012
Mean
F1 398.83 397.30 398.07 c 250.35 238.27 244.31 b
F2 475.66 483.49 479.58 a 268.92 263.39 275.16 a
F3 407.00 457.22 432.11 b 274.16 242.01 258.09 b
F4 422.09 463.59 442,84 b 278.87 277.30 278.09 a
F5 442.46 573.08 457.77ab 280.74 269.44 275.09 a
F6 461.49 507.80 484.65 a 297.23 284.83 291.03 a
Mean 434.59 b 463.75 a - 278.05a 262.54b -
Figure sharing same letter did not differ significantly
Table V. Grain yield (t/ha) and harvest index (%) as affected by organic and inorganic fertilizers
Grain yield (t/ha) Harvest Index (%) Treatment
P-3062 P-3012
Mean
P-3062 P-3012
Mean
F1 4.53 4.32 4.43 d 17.67 15.98 16.82 d
F2 6.08 5.42 5.75 ab 25.54 22.06 23.83 b
F3 5.24 5.10 5.17 c 20.54 18.96 19.75 c
F4 5.32 5.26 5.29 c 21.88 20.77 21.33 c
F5 5.72 5.52 5.62 b 24.59 23.86 24.33 b
F6 6.17 5.80 5.98 a 27.40 24.72 26.06 a
Mean 5.509 a 5.98 b - 22.95 a 21.06 a -
Figure sharing same letter did not differ significantly

EFFECT OF INTEGRATED USE OF MANURE AND NITROGEN ON CORN PRODUCTIVITY / Int. J. Agri. Biol., Vol. 6, No. 2, 2004
263
significantly. The combined application of 100 kg N ha
-1
as
urea + 100 kg N ha
-1
as poultry manure (F
6
) produced
maximum corn grain yield (5.98 t ha
-1
) which was
statistically at par with F
2
. F
5
also produced statistically
similar yields as that of F
2
. Where as, control (F
1
) plot gave
minimum yield (4.43 t ha
-1
). The increase in grain yield in
case of combined use of fertilizer was mainly due to more
number of grains per cob as well as number of cobs per
plant and better grain development. These results are in
accordance with the findings of Das et al. (1992) and
Tamayo et al. (1997). They observed that combined use of
mineral and organic manure gave maximum yield. The
interaction between fertilizer and corn hybrids was not
significant.
Harvest index (%). The physiological efficiency of a crop
plants in converting the photosynthates into grain yield is
measured in the form of harvest index. Higher the index
value, higher the efficiency of converting dry matter into
economic yield.
It is clear from the Table V that the corn hybrids
differed significantly from each other in their harvest index.
Pioneer-3062 gave more harvest index (22.95%) than
Pioneer-3012 (21.06%). These results are in line with
findings of Farooqi (1999) and Iqbal (2000) who also
observed that genetic potential had significant effect on
grain yield and harvest index.
Similarly, different levels of organic and inorganic
fertilizers had significant effect on harvest index. The
comparison of treatment means showed that maximum
harvest index (26.06%) was recorded from T
6
(100 kg N
ha
-1
as urea + 100 kg N ha
-1
as poultry manure). Treatments
F
2
and F
5
behaved similarly. F
3
and F
4
were also statistically
at par. The lowest harvest index (16.82%) was recorded in
control treatment.
Interaction between various levels of organic and
inorganic fertilizers and corn hybrids remained non-
significant. However, harvest index values ranged from
27.40 to 15.98%.
CONCLUSION
Both the hybrids differed significantly with respect to
number of cobs per plant, number of grains per cob, 1000-
grainweight, grain yield and harvest index. All these
characteristics except number of grains per cob were higher
in hybrid Pioneer-3062 than those of Pioneer-3012; while
Pioneer-3012 produced more number of grains per cob. On
the other hand, number of days taken to 50% tasseling was
affected non-significantly. In case of yield parameters like
number of cobs per plant, number of grains per cob, 1000-
grainweight, grain yield and harvest index were
significantly more from the plots fertilized @ 100 kg N ha
-1
as urea + 100 kg N ha
-1
as poultry manure. On the basis of
these experimental findings, it seems that use of organic and
inorganic fertilizers in proper combination can gave higher
yields than the sole application of either of the fertilizer or
manure particularly in hybrid corn.
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(Received 02 October 2003; Accepted 10 February 2004)