Phosphorus Solubilization through Acidified Organic Extract Improved Growth, Yield and Phosphorus Uptake of Maize Grown in Calcareous Soil

Deficiency of plant available phosphorus (P) is prevailing across the globe. Farming community in Pakistan is also facing the issue of poor availability of P due to high soil pH and calcareous nature of soils resulting in lower P-fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) of expensive fertilizers. Cow manure and elemental sulfur (S degrees) were bio-augmented with sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SOB) and the resultant solid product was diluted with water to get acidified extract (AE). SOB oxidize S degrees to SO4-2 and generate sulfuric acid, having the potential to solubilize insoluble P compounds to simple plant available P (H2PO4- or HPO42-). Maize was grown in pots with recommended dose (82.5 mg kg(-1)) and half (41.25 mg kg(-1)) dose of P by using three types of P fertilizers viz., diammonium phosphate (DAP), single superphosphate (SSP) and rock phosphate (RP) with and without 10% acidified extract (AE) at the rate of 247 L ha(-1). The results revealed that combined use of P fertilizers and AE improved growth, yield and related traits and P uptake of maize compared to alone application of P fertilizers. Combined application of DAP with AE proven to be most significant followed by SSP and RP, each with AE, respectively. DAP and AE improved dry shoot biomass, spade value, cob length, grains per cob and P uptake in shoots by 57.45, 12.96, 57.39, 74.56 and 92.42% over sole application of DAP, respectively. In conclusion, combined application of DAP and AE was advantageous in improving P acquisition and maize productivity. (C) 2019 Friends Science Publishers