Effects of vermicompost and inorganic fertilizer applications in different forms and doses on grain corn

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the most appropriate form and dose of vermicompost applications, which can be used to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers without reducing farmer income in sustainable grain corn production. This study was carried out in 2019 and 2020 under ecological conditions of Cumra-Konya. The research was conducted using randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a split plot arrangement with three replications. Different forms (C; control, I; inorganic, V; vermicompost, L; liquid vermicompost, T; vermicompost tea, ½ I + V2, ½ I + L3, and ½ I + T3) to be placed on the main plots and doses (V1; 1000, V2; 2000, V3; 3000, and V4; 5000 kg ha⁻¹, L1; 30, L2; 50, L3; 100 and L4; 150 kg ha⁻¹, T1; 150, T2; 250, T3; 500, and T4; 750 kg ha⁻¹) to be placed in split plots were selected randomly. When the results obtained in both years of the study were evaluated together, it was observed that the highest grain yield values were obtained from I, ½ I + V2, ½ I + L3, and ½ I + T3 applications (17833, 17207, 17536, and 16733 kg ha⁻¹ respectively). When yield and cost analysis results are evaluated, it is seen that ½ I + T3 fertilizer applications stand out compared to other applications.

Keywords:

• Corn
• vermicompost
• yield components

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the Directorate of Soil, Fertilizer and Water Resources Central Research Institute for their support to the analysis of the materials used in the research, and the Directorate of Bahri Dagdas International Agricultural Research Institute for their support to the technological analysis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.