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| Pak. J. Bot., 40(4): 1703-1710, 2008. |
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| Updated: 09-07-09 | |
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| COMPARATIVE EFFICIENCY OF AUXIN AND ITS PRE-CURSOR APPLIED THROUGH COMPOST FOR IMPROVING GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE
R. AHMAD1, M. KHALID2 , M. NAVEED2, S.M. SHAHZAD2 Z.A. ZAHIR2, AND S.N. KHOKHAR
Abstract: In the present study compost was prepared from waste fruit and vegetables and enriched with 25% (44 kg ha-1) of full dose (175 kg ha-1) of N fertilizer for maize. Pure auxin, indole 3-acetic acid (IAA) and L-TRP (precursor) were blended with respective batches @ 10 mg kg-1 compost for the value addition of N-enriched compost (NEC). Comparative effectiveness of IAA or L-TRP-blended NEC was studied, in the presence or absence of 50% (88 kg N ha-1) of full dose of N fertilizer, through pot and field trials. Compost was applied @ 300 kg ha-1. Results indicated that IAA-blended NEC supplemented with half dose of N fertilizer was as effective as NEC in improving growth and yield of maize. However, precursor (L-TRP)-blended NEC was found better than pure auxin (IAA)-blended, when both were compared with NEC. It significantly improved growth, yield and nutrient uptakes (up to 8.4, 8.6 and 11% respectively) of maize over NEC in the presence of 88 kg N ha-1. The technology bears its promise not only to improve crop yield on sustainable basis but also reduce huge piles of organic wastes causing environmental pollution.
1Land Resources Research Program, National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad-54400, Pakistan 2Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-30408, Pakistan Corresponding Author: drkhaliduaf@yahoo.com |
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