Abstract:
This study was initiated to determine the response of wheat to
phosphate-fortified wheat straw compost. Phosphate-fortified compost was
produced by adding diammonium phosphate (OAP) and organic soil to wheat
straw during decomposition. Normal compost was produced by adding a
nitrogen source ammonium sulphate nitrate (ASN) to wheat straw during
decomposition. Water was applied to each compost in the absence of rain
upto saturation. The composts were turned regularly to facilitate
decomposition. The two composts were each analyzed for total nutrient
composition before being applied to the experimental plots. The composts
were each applied at 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 t ha-1 and a non-fertilized control.
Wheat was grown as per the recommended cultural practices using these
nutrient sources.
The results obtained indicate that, at the experimental rates of both
normal and phosphate fortified composts, there was no significant increase
in grain yield, plant height, tiller numbers, straw weight, grains per spike,
grain moisture content and a thousand grain weight compared to the
control. The recommended DAP rate of 40 kg P205 ha-1, used as a
comparison, showed a significant higher yield response compared to the
other treatments including the control. No definite soil physical and
chemical changes were realized due to fortified compost within the
experimental period of five months.
On the basis of chemical analysis results of the composts, phosphate fortified
compost was different from the normal compost. It is therefore
recommended that further studies be done on the use of phosphate fortified
compost as a source of wheat plant nutrients. The studies should
involve sufficient level of compost decomposition, nitrogen loss during
decomposition, compost placement methods and application of compost rates
higher than the 20 t ha-1 used in this study.
