Soil physical properties, total N and maize yield response to various N sources incorporated with different tillage implements

Abstract

Organic manures if properly incorporated in soil with suitable tillage implement might better enhance grain yield and soil fertility. To investigate the influence of tillage systems and nitrogen (N) sources incorporation on soil physical properties, total N and maize productivity, a field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar during summer 2016. The design used was randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement having four replications. Tillage implements (mould board plough, rotavator, disk harrow and cultivator) were used as main plot factor and N sources (control, cattle manure, poultry manure, sheep manure, mushroom spent, mungbean residue and urea) as subplot. The results exhibited that, improved bulk density, grain yield, harvest index and soil total N (STN) were observed when N incorporated with MB plough. In case of N sources poultry manure, sheep manure and mushroom spent gave at par yield with urea. However, STN and other soil physical properties were significantly higher in organic fertilizer applied plots compared to urea treatments. Conclusively, urea incorporated with cultivator gives higher yield but organic sources incorporated with MB plough could be better alternate for urea to improve maize productivity on sustainable basis.