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CONTRASTING IMPACTS OF PHOSPHOROUS ENRICHED COMPOST
ON PHOSPHOROUS FRACTIONATION IN SOIL AND YIELD TRAITS OF
CHICKPEA
Mussaddiq Khan Khalil1,2, Dost Muhammad2, Muhammad Owais Khan2,*, Skorba O.A.3, Sabir Ali4,
Shuja Ur Rehman Qureshi5 and Mukhtiar Ali2,6
1Key Laboratory of Mountain Environment Evolution and Regulation, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China.
2Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.
3Department of Accounting and Taxation, Sumy State University, Ukraine.
4Management Studies Department, Bahria Business School, Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
5Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan.
6Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China.
E-mail: owaisk@aup.edu.pk
Abstract: In order to maintain soil fertility, the knowledge of phosphorous fractions dynamics in soil is important for
phospohorous fertlization and its uptake by plants. The experiment was set out in a randomized complete block design with
nine treatments replicated thrice. Different P treatments such as control, inorganic P fertilizers, their combination with FYM,
and pretreated compost based on 90 kg P2O5 ha-1 were applied to field plots. The statistical analysis showed that in comparison
to alone P fertilizer, combining the application with FYM with DAP and R.P has significantly increased the grain yield and their
components. DAP+FYM has produced maximum results as compared to all other treatments. It has increased the grain yield
(kg ha-1), plant height (cm), pods plant-1, grains pod-1, 100 seed weight (g) and biomass yield (kg ha-1) by 39.7, 14.8, 24.3, 20.5,
22.1 and 39.4% followed by treatment amended with 2% R.P enriched compost. Grain yield showed a strong correlation with
labile P (water-soluble and Ca2-P) and as well as with moderately labile (Al-P and Fe-P) with r values of 0.65, 0.51, 0.64 and 0.53,
respectively, as compared to non-labile P in postharvest soils. The sole RP (rock phosphate) had higher non-labile P, which
was significantly transformed into labile P by both mixing and pre-treatment of RP with FYM. This study demonstrated that
P enriched compost can act as effective P fertilizer and can perform better than inorganic P fertilizer in terms of grain yield and
yield traits of chickpea.
Key words: Phosphorous fractions, FYM, DAP, Rock phosphate.
Cite this article
Mussaddiq Khan Khalil, Dost Muhammad, Muhammad Owais Khan, Skorba O.A., Sabir Ali, Shuja Ur Rehman Qureshi and
Mukhtiar Ali (2021). Contrasting impacts of phosphorous enriched compost on phosphorous fractionation in soil and yield
traits of chickpea. International Journal of Agricultural and Statistical Sciences. DocID: https://connectjournals.com/
03899.2021.17.2339
*Author for correspondence Received November 18, 2020 Revised November 05, 2021 Accepted December 15, 2021
Int. J. Agricult. Stat. Sci. Vol. 17, Supplement 1, pp. 2339-2352, 2021 www.connectjournals.com/ijass
DocID: https://connectjournals.com/03899.2021.17.2339 ISSN : 0973-1903, e-ISSN : 0976-3392
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Introduction
Phosphorous is classified as a significant nutrient
and has been recognized as one of the vital nutrients in
plant nutrition and enhances pulses’ productivity
[Dotaniya et al. (2014)]. Phosphorous plays important
role in early root and shoot growth, seed and fruit
development, tillering, flowering and fastens maturity.
It is important constituent of certain nucleic acid and
plays a vital role in cell division. One of the important
functions of phosphorous is that it captures and covert
solar energy into useful plant compounds [Mengal et
al. (2001)]. The uptake of P by plants also enhances
the uptake of other nutrients. Phosphorous is a mobile
nutrient in the soil as well as in plants. In plants’
deficiency stage, it moves from older parts to younger
parts of the plant [Ali et al. (2002)]. Chickpea being a
2340 Mussaddiq Khan Khalil et al.
legume crop, produces nodules on its roots. These
legumes, in association with Rhizobium bacteria, fix
atmospheric nitrogen. Rhizobium bacteria need
phosphorus for energy as ATP (Adenosine triphosphate)
that produces nitrogenase enzymes, which catalyzes
atmospheric nitrogen. Production of ATP occurs during
the process of photosynthesis.
The commercially inorganic phosphorous fertilizers
available in Pakistan are DAP, SSP, TSP and NP.
Calamai and More (1987) compared various
phosphorous fertilizers’ outcomes and recorded that
more phosphorous is released from SSP followed by
DAP. Phosphorous is present in Pakistani soils in large
amounts, but it is unavailable to plants (15-85% organic
P) and only a small fraction of it is in soil solution form.
Phosphorous availability to crops is maximum in the
soil having pH ranges from 6.0 to 7.0 [Lindsay et al.
(1989)]. The main limitation in phosphorous nutrition is
that the field crops consume only 10-25% of applied
phosphorous. Hedley et al. (1982) classified soil P into
three categories. The labile P, which is readily available
to plants, includes water-soluble P, di-calcium phosphate,
nucleic acid P and phospholipid.
In contrast, non-labile P is not available to plants
includes apatite P, occluded P, Ca10-P, and phytic acid.
The moderately labile P can be available to plants consist
of tri-calcium phosphate (Ca3-P), octa-calcium
phosphate (Ca8-P), Ca-Mg phytate, Al-P, and Fe-P. The
P phosphorous performance in soil depends considerably
on the various fractions of P present in soil [Audette et
al. (2016), Zakari et al. (2021), Singh et al. (2021)].
The different fractions of P in soil could be due to
existence of different organic acids (humic, fulvic,
tannic, citric acid), which can solubilize fixed P in
calcareous soil. Composts’ application greatly affects
the P fraction and transformation in soil [Wei et al.
(2014)]. These various forms of P determine the P
availability to crop and its recovery.
Composting is a biological practice where organic
waste is transformed into a final product that can be
used as bio-fertilizers and soil conditioner without any
adverse effect on the environment. In Asia, composting
is one of the main process in reutilizing agricultural by-
products, livestock, poultry and municipal wastes.
Compost application to the soil can enhance soil fertility.
It also helps in mineralization of nutrients and plays a
key role in diminishing waste from the environment
[Chen et al. (2003) and Dagar et al. (2020)]. Microbes
involved in composting generate heat during
decomposition, which efficiently destroyed pathogens
and weeds seeds [Crawford, (1983), Dagar et al.
(2020a), Ali et al. (2021), Alvarado et al. (2021)]. The
fertilizer use efficiency of fertilizers can be enhanced
by various methods, including crop rotation, tillage
practices, fertilizer application methods, mixing of
fertilizers with farmyard manure, etc. When inorganic
fertilizers are treated with organic wastes, microbes
present in organic manure accelerate its mineralization
and make the nutrients available to plants. Yadav et al.
(2017) reported an increase in plant growth and
maximum phosphorous content in plant having
pretreated compost with rock phosphate compared to
sole compost and rock phosphate. This research was
designed to study the effect of pre-treated compost on
soil phosphorus fractionation (most likely organic,
inorganic, water-soluble and exchangeable P) and its
consequent impact on chickpea yield and nutrient uptake
and to compare the rock phosphate or DAP treated
compost with untreated compost of the same quality
for higher productivity and augmenting soil properties,
especially in P fertility and forms of P.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1 Preparation of pre-treated compost
A pile of 500 kg on dry weight basis of FYM
compost was prepared on a plan area of plot (3×3m).
It was spread on land in the open air to evaporate an
excess amount of water from it. A black polythene sheet
was laid on the plan area of 9 m2. About 45-50 kg FYM
was layered on the sheet and was added with 2-5 kg of
di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) or rock phosphate
(RP) at P rate of 0 and 2% basis. It was thoroughly
mixed and was moistened by the addition of some water.
The exact process was repeated 4 to 5 times by putting
the 50 kg FYM layer on the mixture and then adding 2-
5 kg of DAP/RP and was thoroughly mixed and
moistened. The manure and additives were mixed
homogeneously and thoroughly covered by black
polythene sheet to conserve heat produced during the
thermophilic stage of compost and reduce the odour
produced during composting. The water was added to
the pile on moisture losses to maintain the uniform soil
moisture content of 50% and was mixed from time to
time for homogenisation and aeration. Temperature of
the pile was monitored periodically, at least once a week.
The prepared compost was applied to the field at least
one week before sowing the crop.
Impacts of phosphorous enriched compost on phosphorous fractionation in soil and yield traits of chickpea 2341
2.2 Field experiment
An experiment was executed at Research farm,
The University of Agriculture Peshawar Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, in Rabi season 2017-18 to examine
chickpea response to DAP/R.P treated compost. The
experiment was set out in RCB design, comprising of
nine treatments. Each treatment was replicated three
times, thus making 27 experimental plots. The plot size
was 4×3 m2 with the plant to plant and row to row
distance of 10 cm and 30 cm, respectively. The
pretreated FYM compost and non-treated FYM
compost of same source and quality was applied to
plots at the time of sowing. Agronomic parameters were
carried out consistently for all experimental plots during
the course of the experiment.
The experiment included the following treatments:
T1- Control
T2- DAP (90 kg P2O5 ha-1)
T3- R.P (90 kg P2O5 ha-1)
T4- FYM compost (10 t ha-1)
T5- FYM compost (Rate similar to pre-treated
compost)
T6- FYM compost + DAP (90 kg P2O5 ha-1)
T7- FYM compost + R.P (90 kg P2O5 ha-1)
T8- 2% DAP enriched FYM compost based on
90 kg P2O5 ha-1
T9- 2% R.P enriched FYM compost based on
90 kg P2O5 ha-1
DAP = Di ammonium phosphate
RP = Rock phosphate
FYM = Farmyard manure
2.3 Agronomic parameters
During the course of the study following agronomic
parameters was analyzed:
2.3.1 - Phosphorous Fractionation in soil
2.3.2- Plant height (cm)
2.3.3 - Number of pods plant-1
2.3.4 - Number of grains pod-1
2.3.5 - 100-grain weight (g)
2.3.6 - Biological and grain yield (kg ha-1)
2.3.1 Soil P forms after crop harvest
A technique proposed by Jiang and Yichu (1989)
to analyze different fractions of P in soil.
1.25g of soil was mixed with 25mL of 0.25M
NaHCO3 at pH 8.0 and was shaken for 2 hours,
followed by centrifugation at 3000 to 4000 r min-1
and filtration to analyze labile P including water-
soluble P and Ca2-P.
1.25g of soil was mixed with 25mL of 0.5M NH4Ac
at pH 4.2 and was shaken for 16 hours, followed
by centrifugation at 3000 to 4000 r min-1 and
filtration to analyze moderately labile P including
Ca3-P, Ca8-P, and Ca(Mg) phytate.
1.25g of soil was separately mixed with 25mL of
0.5M NH4F at pH 4.2 and 0.1M NaOH-Na2CO at
pH 12 and was shaken for 1 hour followed by
centrifugation at 3000 to 4000 r min-1 and filtration
to analyze moderately labile P such as Fe-P and
Al-P, respectively.
1.25g of soil will be mixed with 25mL of 0.3M CD
at pH 13.0 and was shaken for 16 hours followed
by centrifugation at 3000 to 4000 r min-1 and
filtration to analyze non-labile P, including occluded-
P.
1.25g of soil was mixed with 25mL of 0.25M H2SO4
at pH 1.0 and was shaken for 1 hour, followed by
centrifugation at 3000 to 4000 r min-1 and filtration
to analyze non-labile P (Ca10-P).
Elemental analysis of phosphorus was analyzed on
spectrophotometer at 770 nm wavelength after making
of colored P complex of ammonium molybdate as
described by Kuo (1996).
2.3.2 Plant height (cm)
For measurement of plant height, five plants were
randomly selected at the crop maturity stage from each
plot, and their heights were measured with help
graduated scale and then their mean was taken for each
plot separately.
2.3.3 Number of pods per plant
The total numbers of pods per plant were calculated
by aimlessly choosing five plants from each plot and
the numbers of pods of every elected plant were
counted. The average of all number of pods from each
plant gave us data of number of pods per plant.
2.3.4 Number of grain per pod
Twenty pods were picked from five plants from
each plot, they were individually threshed and their
2342 Mussaddiq Khan Khalil et al.
number of grains were calculated. Then mean was
taken to get number of grain plant-1.
2.3.5 100 grain weight
For calculating 100 grain weight data, hundred
grains were collected randomly after the threshing of
pods from each plot. The balance then weighted the
100 grains.
2.3.6 Biological yield (kg ha-1)
The plants were harvested from 4 central rows of
every plot along with their pods and were later sundried.
After sun drying, they were weighted with the help of
balance. The following formula calculated the biological
yield:
Biological yield per
rows
Biological yield (kg ha-1) = ______________________________ × 10000 m2
R-R space (m) × row
size (m) × no. of rows
2.3.7 Grain yield (kg ha-1)
The pods from four central rows of each plot were
collected and were sundried and then separated grains
were weighted. Then grain yield was calculated by the
following formula:
Grain yield per row
Grain yield (kg ha-1) = ___________________________________ × 10,000 m2
R-R space (m) × row
length (m) × No. of rows.
2.3.7 Number and weight of dry nodules
The total number and weight of nodules was
calculated at the 50% flowering stage of the plant.
Three plants were uprooted randomly from each plot
and were washed carefully. The nodules were then
separated from roots and were counted. The weight of
nodules was taken after sun drying with the help of
sensitive balance.
3. Results and Discussion
The influence of pretreated FYM compost with P
fertilizer on yield and production of chickpea under agro
climatic conditions of New Developmental Farm,
University of Agriculture Peshawar in Rabi season
2017-2018. The experiment was set out in randomized
complete block design (RCBD) using nine treatments
and three replications. Each experimental unit has an
area of 12m2 (4m × 3m). The chickpea was cultivated
with a P-P distance of 10 cm and R-R distance of 30
cm. The physio-chemical features of the experimental
location before sowing of crop and extractable P content
of different composts used in the experiment are
represented in Table 1. The values in the table show
that the soil of the experimental location was slightly
alkaline in nature, non-saline, having silt loam texture,
and deficient in nitrogen and phosphorous. The field
data was examined statistically through analysis of
variance (ANOVA) techniques suitable for randomize
complete block design (RCBD). Means was compared
using the least significance difference (LSD) test at
0.05 probability level when the F-values are significant.
3.1. Plant Height (cm)
Table 2 figures show that inorganic P fertilizers,
their combination with farmyard manure and pretreated
compost has significant influence on various yield traits
of chickpea such as plant height, number of pods per
plant and number of grains per pods over control.
Maximum plant height of 76.23cm was examined for
treatment receiving 2% DAP enriched compost based
on 90 kg P2O5 ha-1 applied at the rate of 1.96 t ha-1 and
is statistically similar to 76.20 cm produced by treatment
having 2% R.P enriched compost followed by treatment
receiving DAP+FYM (10 t ha-1) treatment receiving
R.P+ FYM (10 t ha-1), which has given plant height of
74.43 and 73.03 cm, respectively. In contrast, minimum
plant height was recorded for control (zero P) which
was 66.43 cm. This phenomenon is also reflected in
Fig. 1, showing that DAP and R.P enriched compost
treatments have increased the plant height up to 14%.
Presumably, it may be due to an increase in the
availability of phosphorous to plants offered from DAP
and R.P enriched compost. This availability of soil P is
influenced by pretreatment of inorganic P sources with
organic manures apparently due to chelation of cations
and various organic acids. The phosphorous plays a
significant role in the root and shoot development of
plants and increase in available P in soil leads to more
uptake of P by plants, resulting in improved plant height.
Table 1: Physio chemical properties of experimental site and
compost
Property Concentration Unit
Sand 42.6 %
Silt 50.0 %
Clay 7.4 %
Texture Class Silt Loam _
pH (1:5) 7.70 _
E.C (1:5) 0.21 dSm-1
Extractable P (ABDTPA) 2.23 mg kg-1
Total P in FYM 0.49 %
Impacts of phosphorous enriched compost on phosphorous fractionation in soil and yield traits of chickpea 2343
3.2 Number of pods per plant
Organic, inorganic phosphorous fertilizers and
pretreated FYM composts with inorganic P sources
has also significantly enhanced number of pods produced
by an individual plant. Mean values revealed that all
the treatments have considerably affected the number
of pods per plant. The maximum number of pods
produced per plant (23.63) was recorded for treatment
having 2% DAP enriched followed by treatment 2%
R.P enriched compost (22.73). The minimum number
of pods per plant was calculated for the control
treatment (19.00). The graphic representation of percent
increase in pods number over control is displayed in
Fig. 2. The possible reason may be that pretreated
composts have played a major role in increasing the
availability of P, N and other nutrients to plant. By
application of compost to soil it increases the water
and nutrient holding capacity of the soil. It immobilizes
the nutrients and slowly releases them to the plant for
absorption with the passage of time. Phosphorous plays
Fig. 1: Percent increase in plant height of chickpea over control as affected by various P fertilizers treatments
Fig. 2: Percent increase in number of pods per plant of chickpea over control as affected by various P fertilizers treatments
2344 Mussaddiq Khan Khalil et al.
a key part in different physiological phenomena of plants
such as photosynthesis, respiration, cell partition and
cell development and enzymatic activities of plant
leading to better seed formation and flower
development.
3.3 Number of grains per pod
The data obtained for number of grains per pods
represents that in-organic P fertilizers, combination of
FYM compost with commercial P fertilizers, alone FYM
and FYM enriched compost has significantly increased
the number of grains per pods as compared to control.
All the treatments has significantly improved the grains
number per pods as compared to control. Maximum
grains per pods (2.35) was calculated for 2% DAP
enriched compost tailed by treatments getting
DAP+FYM (10 t ha-1) and 2% R.P enriched compost
which has given 2.31 and 2.30 grains pod-1, respectively.
The minimum number of grains per pod (1.95) was
recorded for Control. The same phenomenon is
represented in Fig. 3. Presumably it may be due to
positive role of phosphorous in various enzymatic
functions of plant such as photosynthesis and respiration
which leads to improved pods filling by healthy grains.
3.4 Hundred grain weight (g)
The figures of Table 2 displays the considerable
effect of all the treatments on hundred-grain mass,
Fig. 3: Percent increase in number of seeds per pod of chickpea over control as affected by various P fertilizers treatments
Fig. 4: Percent increase in 100 grain weight (g) of chickpea over control as affected by various P fertilizers treatments
Impacts of phosphorous enriched compost on phosphorous fractionation in soil and yield traits of chickpea 2345
number of nodules produced per plant, and weight of
nodules. Maximum 100 grain weight of 43.22 g was
calculated for treatment having 2% DAP enriched
compost @ 1.96 t ha-1 and is statistically similar to 42.33
g produced by treatment having DAP+FYM (10 t ha-
1). It is tailed by treatment having 2% R.P enriched
compost and R.P+ FYM (10 t ha-1), which has
produced 41.63g and 40.80 g, respectively, while the
minimum 100 seed weight of 35.41g was recorded for
the control treatment (zero P). The percent increase in
100-grain weight is also graphically represented in Fig.
4. The possible reason for the above results may be
due to an increase in the availability of nitrogen and
phosphorous to plant. As it is known that DAP consists
of 18% nitrogen and 46% phosphorous, twice to that
of P present in rock phosphate. The synergistic relation
between P and N results in more P and N uptake by
the plant [Bradely et al. (1984)], thus increasing the
protein content of grains and results in healthy grains.
3.5 Biological and grain yield (kg ha-1)
Table 4 shows mean values for number of biomass
yield as well as grain yield. Statistical analysis shows
that all the treatments, irrespective of various P sources,
have significantly affected the biomass yields and grain
yield. By comparing alone FYM treatments with
combined application of FYM with inorganic P
fertilizers, the integration treatments have significantly
Fig. 5: Percent increase in Biological yield (kg ha-1) of chickpea over control as affected by various P fertilizers treatments
Fig. 6: Percent increase in Grain yield (kg ha-1) of chickpea over control as affected by various P fertilizers treatments
2346 Mussaddiq Khan Khalil et al.
enhanced biomass and grain yield. Among the integration
treatments, DAP treatments have produced higher
biomass and grain yield than R.P treatments. The
highest biological yield (4614.4 kg ha-1) was recorded
for treatment received 2% DAP enriched compost
based on 90 kg P2O5 ha-1, which was statistically
followed by treatment receiving 2% R.P enriched
compost based on 90 kg P2O5 ha-1 with biomass yield
4506 kg ha-1. The respective percent increase in
biological yields with DAP and R.P supplemented
Table 2: Grain Yield and various yield traits of chickpea as affected by application of organic, inorganic P fertilizers and P
enriched compost.
Treatments Plant Pods/plant Seeds/Pod 100 seed Biological Grain yield
height weight Yield
(cm) (g) (Kg/ha) (Kg/ha)
Control 66.43 e 19.00 d 1.95 d 35.41 e 3309.3 d 1082.1 e
DAP alone 72.33 bc 21.06 bcd 2.19 abc 39.51 bc 3901.8 b 1332.2 bcd
R.P alone 69.80 cd 20.66 bcd 2.14 bcd 38.51 cd 3828.8 bc 1282.7 bcd
FYM compost alone 71.76 bcd 20.10 cd 2.15 bc 38.40 cd 3801.7 bc 1261.9 cd
DAP + FYM compost (10 t ha-1) 74.43 ab 22.10 abc 2.31 ab 42.33 a 4375.2 ab 1427.4 ab
R.P + FYM compost (10 t ha-1) 73.03 abc 21.46 bc 2.25 abc 40.80 abc 4347.6 ab 1397.3 abc
2%DAP enriched compost 76.23 a 23.63 a 2.35 a 43.22 a 4614.4 a 1511.5 a
2%R.P enriched compost 76.20 a 22.73 ab 2.30 ab 41.63 ab 4485.1 a 1442.3 ab
LSD < 0.05 3.60 2.26 0.21 2.68 322.24 178.01
* All treatments except control and FYM alone received 90 kg P2O5 ha-1.
Table 3 : Various P fractions (mg kg-1) in post-harvest soil of chickpea as influenced by FYM applied in integration or
pretreated with DAP and RP fertilizers.
Labile P Moderately labile P Non labile P
Treatments* WSP and Ca3(PO4)2, Al-P Fe-P Occluded Ca10-P
Ca2PO4+Ca8H2(PO4)6, (AlPO4) (FePO4) P
Ca(Mg) phytate
-------------------------------------------------(mg/kg)-----------------------------------------------
Control 2.12 c 7.89 e 0.76 e 3.24 e 6.08 c 184.9 d
DAP alone 2.86 b 17.15 ab 2.43 ab 3.70 c 9.43 a 265.2 a
R.P alone 2.98 b 18.58 a 2.79 a 3.75 c 9.66 a 271.9 a
FYM compost alone 2.78 b 13.75 cd 1.59 cd 3.59 cd 7.33 b 230.1 c
DAP + FYM compost (10 t ha-1) 3.90 a 18.53 a 3.16 a 4.20 ab 7.63 b 256.0 abc
R.P + FYM compost (10 t ha-1) 4.02 a 15.93 bc 3.09 a 4.32 a 8.01 b 262.8 abc
2%DAP enriched compost 2.94 b 13.85 cd 2.03 bc 3.90 bc 7.48 b 234.4 bc
2%R.P enriched compost 3.14 b 14.51 c 1.90bcd 3.70 c 7.70 b 234.7 bc
LSD < 0.05 0.61 2.67 0.81 0.34 1.16 32.3
* All treatments except control and FYM alone received 90 kg P2O5 ha-1.
Table 4 : Correlation of various phosphorous fractions with grain yield of chickpea.
Correlation Grain yield Labile P Ca3-P Al-P Fe-P Occluded P
Labile P 0.635*
Ca3-P 0.513* 0.614*
Al-P 0.647* 0.793* 0.643*
Fe-P 0.525 * 0.766* 0.797* 0.786*
Occluded P 0.311 ns 0.414 ns 0.653* 0.287 ns 0.582*
Ca10-P 0.367 ns 0.588* 0.744* 0.613* 0.743* 0.766*
Impacts of phosphorous enriched compost on phosphorous fractionation in soil and yield traits of chickpea 2347
Fig. 7: Relation between labile P in soil and grain yield as affected by various P fertilizers treatments and P enriched
compost
Fig. 8: Relation between Ca3-P in soil and grain yield as affected by various P fertilizers treatments and P enriched compost
composts were 39.4 and 36.2%, respectively, over
control (Fig. 5). The increase in DAP enriched compost
over DAP + FYM and DAP compost was 6.0 and 15.5
% and by RP enriched compost over RP + FYM and
RP was 8.3 and 20.3%, suggesting that as compared
to FYM enrichment with DAP, the RP enriched FYM
compost induced more benefits.
In the case of grain yield, it was significantly higher
for 2% DAP enriched compost based on 90 kg P2O5
ha-1 that produced 1512 kg ha-1 equivalent to a 39.7%
increase over control (Fig. 6). This was followed by
2% RP enriched compost based on 90 kg P2O5 ha-1
with grain production of 1443 kg ha-1. In contrast, the
minimum grain yield (1082 kg ha-1) was observed in
control treatment that was statistically similar to
treatment receiving alone FYM compost (1.96 t ha-1)
applied at rate similar to enriched compost indicating
negligible effect on grain yield if the amount of FYM is
reduced without any enrichment. In other words, the
lower level of FYM at 1.96 t ha-1 could not fulfill the
2348 Mussaddiq Khan Khalil et al.
Fig. 9: Relation between Al-P in soil and grain yield as affected by various P fertilizers treatments and P enriched compost
Fig. 10: Relation between Fe-P in soil and grain yield as affected by various P fertilizers treatments and P enriched compost
crop’s P requirements as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.
However, when it was enriched with DAP or RP, it
fulfilled the crop requirements and even produced better
results than any tested treatment. It may be assumed
that the pretreatment of DAP and RP with FYM
(enriched compost) has given sufficient time to organic
manure to solubilize the inorganic P fertilizers. The
compost’s function is to immobilize the nutrients and
slowly supply them to plants with the passage of time;
thus sufficient nutrients were available to crop in various
growth phases. Organic acids and humic substances
produced during decomposition are mainly involved in
the phosphorous solubilization process. As DAP
contains 18% nitrogen as compared to rock phosphate
which contains phosphorous half to that of P in DAP,
so two major nutrients such as N and P was offered
from DAP enriched compost as compared to rock
phosphate resulting into improved biomass and grain
yield as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The above results
show resemblance to Jamal et al. (1989)'s findings,
who observed that DAP treated with FYM before its
application to wheat has produced maximum grain and
biological yield. Ditta et al. (2018) had also noted similar
findings regarding the effect of P enriched compost on
grain and biological yield of chickpea as shown in Figs,
11 and 12 [Basantwani et al. (2021), Dagar et al.
Impacts of phosphorous enriched compost on phosphorous fractionation in soil and yield traits of chickpea 2349
Fig. 12: Relation between Ca10-P in soil and grain yield as affected by various P fertilizers treatments and P enriched
compost
Fig. 11: Relation between Occluded P in soil and grain yield as affected by various P fertilizers treatments and P enriched
compost
(2020b), Saroha et al. (2021), Dagar et al. (2021)].
3.6 P fractions in postharvest harvest soil of
chickpea
Mean values in Table 3 represent the concentration
of different fractions of phosphorous in postharvest soil
of chickpea that significantly affected by various P
fertilizer treatments and enriched compost. Maximum
values for labile P, including water-soluble phosphorous
(WSP) and dicalcium phosphate (Ca2PO4+) was
recorded for RP + FYM compost (10 t ha-1) which has
given 4.02 mg kg-1 P in postharvest soil. It is statistically
followed by DAP + FYM compost (10 t ha-1), which
has given 3.90 mg kg-1 of labile P. The minimum
concentration of labile P (2.12 mg kg-1) was calculated
for control (no fertilizer). The mean values for
2350 Mussaddiq Khan Khalil et al.
moderately labile P including tri-calcium phosphate
(Ca3(PO4)2), octa-calcium phosphate (Ca8H2(PO4)6)
and calcium magnesium phytate (CaMg(PO4)6-8)
shows that maximum moderately labile P (18.58 mg kg
-1) was recorded for RP alone applied at the rate of 90
kg P2O5 ha-1 statistically similar to (18.53 mg kg-1)
recorded for DAP + FYM compost (10 t ha-1). In
contrast, minimum tricalcium phosphate (7.89 mg kg-1)
was recorded for control treatment (no fertilizer). Mean
values for moderately labile P, including iron phosphate
(FePO4) and aluminum phosphate (AlPO4) shows that
maximum Al-P content (3.16 mg kg-1) was calculated
DAP (90 kg P2O5 ha-1) + FYM compost (10 t ha-1). In
comparison, maximum Fe-P content (4.32 mg kg-1) in
soil was recorded for RP (90 kg P2O5 ha-1) + FYM
compost (10 t ha-1). The minimum concentration of Al-
P and Fe-P (0.76 and 3.24 mg kg -1, respectively) was
examined for control (no fertilizer). Similar results were
obtained by Takahashi (2014), who found that compost
application significantly increases Al-P and Fe-P
concentration in soil. Among moderately labile P, Ca3-
P was examined in substantially higher concentration
as compared to Fe-P and Al-P. Wang et al. (2010)
surveyed the concentration of various soil P fractions
in order such as non labile P > moderately labile P >
labile P after annual P fertilizer application to soil.
The mean values of non-labile P including occluded
P (O-P) and Calcium Phosphate hydroxyapatite (Ca10
(PO4)6(OH) 2) represents that maximum non labile P
content (9.66 mg kg-1 O-P and 271.9 mg kg-1 Ca10-P)
was calculated for RP alone (90 kg P2O5 ha-1), which
was statistically similar to (9.43 mg kg-1 O-P and 265.2
mg kg-1 Ca10-P) obtained from DAP alone (90 kg P2O5
ha-1). The minimum non labile P content 6.08 mg kg-1
O-P and 184.9 mg kg-1 Ca10-P was recorded for
control. The possible reasons for the above results may
be that P fertilizers applied alone leads to maximum
fixation of P in soil and minimum availability to plants.
The phosphorous use efficiency of various P fertilizers
is lesser than optimum and about 16-20% of applied P
and is taken up by crop due to the creation of insoluble
P compounds (fixed P) in soil [Vance (2001)]. The
composts applied along with inorganic fertilizers
increase the water and nutrient holding capacity of soil,
making the soil more porous and hence plays a key
role in inhibiting the P from fixation. Our results show
similarity to findings of Zhang and Mackanzie (1993)
and Dagar et al. (2021), who examined variations of
soil P fractions under long-term corn monoculture. They
recorded an increased in non-labile P fractions when
inorganic P fertilizer were applied alone. In contrast,
combination of organic and inorganic P fertilizers had
significantly enhanced labile and moderately labile P
fractions. Farrell et al. (2014) also found that biochar
application and P fertilizer increase the wheat yield and
significantly enhance various P fractions in soil.
3.7 Correlation of various phosphorous fractions
with grain yield of chickpea
The data regarding different soil P fractions and
grain yield indicated a significant correlation as shown
in Table 4. Labile P, Ca3-P, Al-P and Fe-P were
significantly correlated with grain yield, i.e. 0.635, 0.513,
0.647 and 0.525, respectively. However, occluded P
and non-labile P (Ca10-P) showed a non-significant
correlation with grain yield i.e. 0.311 and 0.367,
respectively.
4. Conclusion
The current study concluded that the application
of phosphorus enriched compost significantly increased
the yield and yield traits of chickpea. The integration of
FYM with DAP and R.P produced higher yield and
growth than the sole application of FYM and inorganic
phosphorus fertilizers. This research confirmed that
phosphorus enriched compost can act as an effective
P fertilizer and can perform better than alone inorganic
phosphorus fertilizer in terms of nodulation, grain yield
and different yield attributes of chickpea. Such studies
on various leguminous crops under diverse soil
conditions are recommended for widespread application
and confirmation of results.
Acknowledgments
The authors express their gratitude to the editorial
board and reviewer for the efforts for suggestion and
reviewing this paper. The authors also appreciate the
editor for his cooperation during the review process.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing
interests.
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