Effect of Organic, Inorganic and Nano Fertilizers on Agronomic Traits of Maize

Integrated nutrient management is a judicious application of fertilizer from different sources for sustainable agriculture. Two-year field experiment was conducted at the Agric. Res. and Exp. Center, Fac. of Agric., Moshtohor, Banha Univ., Kalubia Governorate, during the two growing seasons 2016 and 2017, to study the influence of three biogas sludge manure rates (0, 3.5, 7 ton/fed), four mineral NP fertilizer i.e. (N₀P₀, N₄₀P_7.5, N₈₀P₁₅,N₁₂₀P_22.5 kg/fed) and three levels of nano micronutrients foliar application (0, 100 and 200 g/fed) on growth, yield and its component of maize (Zea mays L.). The experiment was laid out in split-split-plot design with three replications. Results of combined analysis of the two seasons showed that increasing biogas rate to 3.5 ton/fed significantly increased grain weight/ear as well as grain and biological yield/fed compared with control. Yield components (ear length, grain weight/ear and 100-grain weight) as well as grain and biological yield (ton/fed) were significantly increased by increasing NP fertilizer levels up to N₈₀P₁₅ kg/fed. Significant effect of nano micronutrients application on No. of ears/plant and 100-grain weight at rate 100 g/fed and plant height, grain weight/ear as well as grain and biological yield/fed at rate 200 g/fed were detected. Interaction effect between biogas x NP x nano had significant effect on ear length, grain weight/ear as well as grain and biological yield. Treatment 3.5 ton biogas x N₈₀P₁₅ kg x 200 g nano/fed was the best treatment had 56.02% more grain yield, in comparison to control with increased soil fertility and saving 33.3% of mineral fertilizer compared with high fertilizer level.