Abstract
Methods of application of fertilizer are one of the major causes for low fertilizer Phosphorus (P) use efficiency in alkaline calcareous soils. Three-year field studies, on wheat and maize were undertaken to compare the response of P applied in the irrigation water with broadcast method. The treatments include: control (no applied P), P applied with broadcast method (farmer practice) and P applied with irrigation water (Fertigated P). Generally fertigated applied P proved to be very suitable to increase grain yield, P-uptake, agronomic efficiency and P use efficiency both in wheat and maize. In wheat, fertigated P increased grain yield by 12 to 18%, P uptake by 4 to 32%, agronomic efficiency by 11 to 20% and P use efficiency by 2 to 13% during three cropping seasons as compared to broadcast method. Similarly fertigated P caused an increase of 11% in grain yield, 18% in P-uptake, 65% in agronomic efficiency and 90% in P use efficiency over broadcast method in maize. In conclusion, the use of P fertilizer through fertigation could be a useful technique to increase grain yield and P use efficiency in cereals.
Zafar Iqbal, Muhammad Yaqub, Muhammad Akram, Riaz Ahmad. (2013) Phosphorus fertigation: A technique for enhancing P fertilizer efficiency and yield of wheat and maize, The Journal Soil & Environment , Volume 32, Issue 2.
-
Views
365 -
Downloads
32
