Enhancing Plant Growth Performance and Fertiliser Uptake in Maize (Zea Mays) Cultivated on a Tropical Acid Soil Using Rice Straw Compost

Nutrient deficiencies and environmental problem are common problems in tropical acid soil
due to nitrogen volatilisation, phosphorus fixation and potassium leaching. The application of
rice straw compost can be used to mitigate N, P, and K losses in acid by increasing nutrient
availability in these soils. The aims of the study are to (i) characterize the selected
physiochemical properties of the soil samples and rice straw compost, (ii) assess the selected
plant growth parameters of Zea mays upon amending chemical fertiliser with rice straw compost,
and (iii) determine the soil nutrients availability, total nutrient uptake, and dry matter production
of Zea mays L. by amending chemical fertiliser with rice straw compost. A pot trial was
conducted for 60 days and a F1 hybrid sweet corn 801 variety was used as a test crop. The soil
samples were then collected and analysed at the end of pot trial. The maize was harvested and
partitioned into leaves, stems, and roots at 60 during end of pot trial. The rice straw compost
increased nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium availability and increased
the soil pH to near neutral due to the H+

consumption capacity of organic materials. Nutrient
availability in the soil was significantly increased due to microbial mediated mineralization
causing an increased in available nutrients for plant uptake. The results also showed that the
rice straw compost could increase the maize nutrient uptake and dry weight due to the high
cation exchange capacity contributed by the rice straw amendments which increased the affinity
of cations like ammonium, potassium ion, calcium ion and magnesium ion in soil. Treatment
with 20 t ha-1 of compost had the highest nutrient uptake and cation exchange capacity due to
higher rate of compost application which imposed larger surface area, and had the most
abundant nutrient concentration in the leaves.