Response of maize (zea mays l.) to ferti-irrigation of spentwash
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Date
2007
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UAS, Dharwad
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted at the Main Agricultural Research Station,
University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during kharif, 2006 to study the response of
maize to ferti-irrigation of spentwash. The design adopted was Randomized Block Design
with seven treatments replicated thrice.
In the investigation spentwash was included as a replacement for chemical fertilizer.
It was used on the basis of nitrogen requirement and applied as recommended. Spentwash
application improved all the growth parameters including plant stand, leaf number, leaf area,
chlorophyll content etc.
Spentwash had a significant effect on most of the yield parameters. Both growth and
yield parameters complemented each other in realizing higher fodder and grain yield.
Application of spentwash at the recommended N level remained comparable with chemical
fertilizer providing on opportunity of substituting. The economics of crop cultivation was
significantly in favour of spentwash rather than chemical fertilizer as it resulted in direct
saving of fertilizer cost.
Spentwash application at the recommended level (N requirement) did not affect the
soil properties. Both pH and EC remain unaffected although a marginal increase in
conductivity and organic carbon, available N, P were observed but increase in K was
perceptible with no impending immediate ionic interaction when applications are not
repeated beyond three seasons.
Spentwash application had a favourable effect on pH, conductivity, available nutrients
and did not favour their accumulation. Spentwash helped in better nutrition as it also
supplemented micronutrients. It did not suppress biological activity and no significant
changes was observed in them due to spentwash use.