Improving plant growth performance and phosphorus use efficiency in Zea mays L. cultivated in tropical acid soil upon amending paddy husk compost

In tropical acid soils, P is often being a limited because the soluble form of inorganic P in the soil is fixed by Al and Fe, thus reduces the P availability in the soil. Application of organic amendment is highly recommended to mitigate P losses in acid soil by increasing P availability in these soils. This process will enable long term bonding of Al and Fe by compost instead of P. Therefore, this study is aimed to (i) characterize the selected physio-chemical properties of the soil samples and chemical properties of paddy husk compost, (ii) assess the selected plant growth parameters of Zea mays L. upon amending chemical fertiliser with paddy husk compost and (iii) determine the soil P availability, P uptake, and dry matter production of Zea mays L. by amending chemical fertiliser with paddy husk compost. A pot test experiment was conducted in a net house at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli Campus for 60 days and
a F1 hybrid sweet corn 801 variety was used as a test crop. The soil samples from each pot test trials were then collected and analysed. The Zea mays L. was harvested and
partitioned into leaves, stems, and roots at 60 DAS. The result showed, treatments with paddy husk compost showed significant increase in the soil pH, and significant reduction of exchangeable Al and Fe in the soil compared to treatments with soil only and soil with chemical fertilizer only. There was also significant increase in growth
performance, phosphorus uptake and dry matter production (leaves, stems and roots) of Zea mays L. in treatments amended with paddy husk compost. This was due to the
reduction of exchangeable toxicity in the root zone and increase in the phosphorus availability in the soil. As a conclusion, compost derived from paddy husk compost can be used to improve the growth performance, phosphorus uptake, phosphorus availability and dry matter production of Zea mays L. cultivated in tropical acid soil by reducing the
soil phosphorus fixation.