RESIDUAL EFFECT OF COMPOST AND BIOFERTILIZER ON MAIZE YIELD, AND SOME SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted at the experimental farm of Mallawi in Egypt during 2003-2004. In 2002-2003, what was grown as the first crop and received town refuse or filter press mud as compost alone or in combination with Biofertan (nitrogen fixing bacteria Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Bacillus and Klebsiella spp.). In 2003-2004, maize was grown in the same plot to determine the effects of treatments on plant growth, grain yield and nutrient content. The residual effects on some chemical properties of the soil were also determined. It was shown that grain yield and 100 grain weight significantly increased in all treatments of compost alone and with Biofertan. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptakes also significantly increased due to the addition of composts. There was no significant effect of compost on the pH and EC of the soil, except in the case of filter press mud, where the soil pH slightly decreased. Organic matter contents also increased, and was highest in the filter press mud alone or in combination with Biofertan. The cation exchange capacity and the amounts of available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium also increased upon compost and Biofertan addition. These results show that the residual effects of compost and Biofertan application have positive effects on plant growth, grain yield, nutrient uptake and soil chemical properties.