Response of Maize Yield and Nutrient Uptake to Indigenous Organic Fertilizer from Corn Cobs

Abstract

Indonesia’s corn harvest area is decreasing so that corn production is also decreasing. The use of suboptimal land can be done to increase the harvested corn area by adding nutrients with organic fertilizers. One of the organic fertilizer ingredients is corn cob waste. The aim of the study was to examine the role of corn cob fertilizer on the growth, yield and nutrient uptake of corn. The study used a completely randomized block design with one fertilization factor with six levels, namely chemical fertilizers and corn cob organic fertilizer at a dose of 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 or 12.5 tons/ha. Corn cob organic fertilizer has met the standard as an organic fertilizer with an organic C content of 62.21% and organic matter of 85.71%, ranking it in the high category. The total nitrogen is 1.44%, total phosphate is 1.43% and total potassium is 2.17%. Corn cob organic fertilizer had an effect on the leaf area index, root length, levels of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, weight of 100 seeds, cob diameter and phosphate uptake. Doses of 12.5 tons/ha produced the highest changes in chlorophyll a and b, root length and phosphate uptake. Phosphate and potassium uptake correlated with plant biomass and root length. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that corn cob organic fertilizer is able to support the growth, yield and nutrient uptake of corn in sub-optimum land. Several gaps and research priorities in soil fertility have been identified, which need to be addressed in the future.