EFFECTIVENESS OF COMPOST, POTASSIUM HUMATE, AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON MAIZE GROWTH

Food security is the major issue in Pakistan due to exponential increase in its population. Pakistan’ economy is highly dependent upon its agriculture sector which especially relies on its major crops. There is a huge gap between the output and actual requirements of food produce. The extensive cropping system over the years and specific crop rotation on the same organic matter are speedily converting productive and fertile soils into barren soils which are causing not only quantitative but also qualitative loss of crop outcome. There is a dire need to promote the use of non-conventional approached along with conventional approaches for maximum production of crops especially maize. In University of Agriculture Faisalabad a field trial was carried out at experimental area to figure out the effect of integrated nitrogen management on growth and yield of maize. In the experiment RCBD design was used with four replications. The integrated effect of potassium humate, compost and inorganic fertilizers on growth and yield of maize was studied under field conditions. Where humic acid @ 5 L ha-1 and compost @ 100 kg ha-1 along with NPK at @ 175:150:100 kg ha-1 were applied. Plant height, ear leaf length, number of grains per cob, grain yield, Chlorophyll content in leaves, nitrogen contents in grain and leaves and various other growth parameters were recorded at maturity. Integrated use of compost and humic acid along with NPK significantly affected all growth and yield parameters.