The bioavailability of phosphorus in composite vs. hybrid maize differ with phosphorus and boron fertilization

Abstract

Food and feed demand is increasing for an increased population which needs continuous cropping of forages and crops which removes the maximum amount of Phosphorus (P) and Boron (B) from the soil, while lowering the concentration of nutrients in the root zone. Nutrient biofortifications in plant parts (grain and stalk) are consider qualitative traits essential for human and animal health. Our findings revealed that P biofortification in maize increased with combined integration of P and B fertilization (75 kg-P ha⁻¹& 10 kg B ha⁻¹). The concentration of P in maize-kernel and ensilage was higher in the composite (Azam) cultivars having at par values with hybrid (CS-200) cultivars, however P uptake and P-agronomic-efficiency was highest in composite-maize as compared to hybrid maize. It was concluded that P biofortification in maize was improved with P and B application and noted with 75 kg-P ha⁻¹ and 10 kg-B ha⁻¹ application. Among the maize cultivars, the bioavailability of P in composite-Vs-hybrid cultivars was statistically at-par however total-P-uptake was maximum in Azam as compared to Baber and CS-200. It could be summarized that for efficient P utilization and improved P bio-fortification in maize, composite maize cultivars “Azam” should be grown with P (75 kg-ha⁻¹) and B (10 kg-ha⁻¹) fertilization to sustain human and animal health.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Maize (Zea mays L.)
• P biofortification
• grain
• ensilage
• P uptake
• agronomic efficiency

Conflict of interest

The author declares that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the National Rural Support Program (NRSP) with the collaboration of Awami Welfare Society (AWS) under the Agriculture Improvement Initiative (AII) project.