Physiological Indices of Spring Maize as Affected by Integration of Beneficial Microbes with Organic and Inorganic Nitrogen and their Levels

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to observe physiological indices of a spring maize response with the integration of beneficial microorganism, organic and inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizer, and N levels. Field experiments were conducted in three replications during 2014 and 2015 at Agronomy Research Farm, the University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan. Different beneficial microbes (BM) (with BM and without BM), organic (farm yard manure, FYM) and inorganic (ammonium nitrate) N ratios (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0), and nitrogen levels (N) (100, 150, and 200 kg ha⁻¹). Beneficial microorganism, 50:50 ratio of organic and inorganic N, and 200 kg N ha⁻¹ seem better in terms of improving SPAD value, plant height (cm), leaf rea (cm²), and leaf area index (LAI) of spring maize. Therefore, the application of BM, 50:50 ratio of organic and inorganic N, and 200 kg N ha⁻¹ were recommended for enhancing crop physiology in agro-climatic condition for Peshawar, Pakistan.

KEYWORDS:

• Beneficial microbes
• nitrogen
• organic and inorganic
• physiology and spring maize