Agronomic Efficiency of Activated Rock Phosphate Granules on Maize Plants Treated with Mycorrhiza in a Calcareous Vertisol of Kenya
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Date
2023-03-22
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer
Abstract
The agronomic efficiency of activated rock phosphate (RP) fertilizers to promote maize growth in the presence or absence of mycorrhizal inoculation was evaluated. Maize plants were treated with two reactive RP grades of medium (RPM) and low (RPL) solubility and their activated forms which were activated with a fraction of diammonium phosphate (DAP) to increase phosphorus (P) availability. We included in the trial design a control without P application and DAP (a positive control). Maize growth and N and P were measured. Activated RPM enhanced maize N and P uptake, biomass, and relative agronomic efficiency (RAE) to levels equivalent to DAP. These properties were unaffected by mycorrhizal inoculation. The mechanism underlying the activation of RP deserves further research investigation to promote local RP deposits too small to merit industrial transformation.
Description
Keywords
Phosphate fertilizers, Zea mays