Growth and Yield of Corn, Carrot and Onion Treated With Rock Phosphate Organic Fertilizer Grown in Standoff Soil Southern Alberta, Canada

Abstract

An experiment was performed in Standoff, Southern Alberta to investigate resource cheap rock phosphate organic fertilizer application to corn, carrot and onion plots. The objective of the study was to ascertain effectiveness of rock phosphate organic fertilizer to support growth and yield of corn, carrot and onion crops grown in Southern Alberta. The varying levels of rock phosphate at 50 P kg/ha for Low P, 100 P kg/ha for High P and control were applied to corn, carrot and onion plots. These treatments were replicated three times, resulting into nine plants per crop. Agronomical parameters collected were subjected to analysis of variance using Duncan Multiple Range Test for separation of means. Result of the experiment indicated that Low P and High P favoured corn height and number of leaves but did not support other parameters measured due to inadequate rock phosphate applied. It was observed that rock phosphate influenced residual level of P after harvest of corn, carrot and onion. Onion plots had the highest P left in the soil than corn and carrot plots. This studies showed potential of rock phosphate in crop production, if apply in adequate amount and availability of soil moisture, as well as high residual P in the soil after harvest.