Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Nitrate retention and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) following soil amendment with superabsorbent polymers

Author(s):

M. Robiul Islam ^{1, 2}, Mohd Razi Ismail ^1*, Laila Naher ³, Yuegao Hu ⁴

Recieved Date: 2013-10-05, Accepted Date: 2014-01-10

Abstract:

In order to reduce environmental impact in the arid and semi-arid regions of northern China, there is an increasing interest in using reduced rate of inorganic fertilizer along with water-saving superabsorbent polymer (SAP) for field crop production. Field experiments were conducted during 2009 and 2010 summer corn season to investigate the growth and yield performances of summer corn (Zea mays L.) under different fertilizer treatments (standard, 100%; medium, 75% and low, 50% of conventional application rate) with (30 kg ha^-1) or without (control) application of SAP. Our result showed that corn yield fell by 6.8% under the medium fertilizer level and 15.5% under the low fertilizer level; the application of SAP increased yield significantly by 23.7%. Similarly, plant height, leaf area, number of grains and relative water content (RWC) in leaves as well as protein, soluble sugar and starch contents in the grain also increased. Considering the trends of growth reduction (qualitative and quantitative) due to fertilizer reduction and progressive influence of SAP on those parameters, it was clear that application of SAP at 30 kg ha^-1 plus only half the amount of conventional fertilizer rate (150 kg urea and 50 kg each of superphosphate and potassium sulfate) would be a more appropriate practice both for increasing fertilizer use efficiency and sustainable corn production under the arid and semi-arid conditions of northern China or the areas with similar ecologies.

Keywords:

Arid environment, soil fertility, water retention, maize, northern China

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2014
Volume: 12
Issue: 1
Category: Environment
Pages: 398-402

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