Egyptian Clover Green Manuring Improved Grain Nutritional Contents, Productivity and Soil Health of Spring Maize with Different Nitrogen Rates

ABSTRACT

Application of green manures substitutes use of chemical fertilizers, improves soil health, prevents soil degradation also ensures food security. Two years’ field experiment was laid out to determine the impact of Egyptian clover green manuring (GM) under varying nitrogen (N) levels on soil properties and maize production. Maize was grown using six N levels, i.e., 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 kg ha⁻¹ along with GM and without GM. The GM improved grain yield (+33%, +48%) due to substantial improvement in grains/cob, 1000-grain weight and grain nutritional contents during spring 2017 and 2018 respectively. Likewise, GM also improved organic matter (OM) (+40%, +88%), available N (+210%, +219%), and total phosphorus (P) (+112%, +128%) compared to no GM. Similarly, 250 kg N ha⁻¹ produced more grains/cob, biological yield and grain yield compared to control and other levels. In interactive effect, GM with 150 kg N ha⁻¹ outperformed in improving 1000-grain weight, maize productivity and agronomic N efficiency. In conclusion, GM improved soil OM and total soil N compared to no GM. Moreover, GM with 150 kg N ha⁻¹ improved productivity, agronomic N efficiency and saved 40% N compared with no GM where 250 kg N ha⁻¹ gave best results.

KEYWORDS:

• Food security
• green manuring
• nitrogen
• productivity
• soil properties