Abstract:

Since Inceptisols, in general, contain low soil organic matter and major plant nutrients, inorganic fertilizers are commonly added during corn cultivation. In order to maintain long-term soil health and fertility, bioferilizer and organic ameliorant application are suggested. The addition of nitrogen (N)-fixing bacteria (NFB) can benefit plant growth through the supply of available nitrogen for plant uptake. Organic ameliorants can enhance soil chemical and biological properties. A field trial had been performed to observe the effect of biofertilizer and organic ameliorant on corn growth, N status in soil and plant, and the yield and wasteof corn. The experiment was designed in a Completely Randomized Block Design that consisted of four treatments and six replications. The treatments were 1.2 kg/ha N-fixing mixed biofertilizer, 2 t/ha organic ameliorant, and mixtures of biofertilizer and ameliorant. Control plants received neither biofertilizer nor ameliorant. The experiment results found that N-fixing biofertilizer and ameliorant increased plant height, fully-developed leaves number, soil reaction and N uptake of corn compared to the control. The total-N content was slightly increased after NFB inoculation with and without amelioration over other treatments. Plots treated with biofertilizer and ameliorant produced a higher grain weight compared to the control treatment. Corn wastes such as empty corn cob and husk weight were increased in plants treated with biofertilizer, ameliorant and a combination of both. This study suggested that the combined application of biofertilizer and ameliorant produced 66% more grain yield and 84 % more cob and husk waste compared to untreated plants.

Keywords: