Studies on Phosphorus Nutrition through Band Placement and Seed Coating in Maize

Poor phosphorus use efficiency of applied fertilizers due to low phosphorus availability is a considerable factor contributing to low maize productivity in Pakistan. Phosphorus use efficiency can be enhanced by phosphorus application through band placement and phosphorus seed coating to increase phosphorus uptake. Thus, keeping in view this fact, an experiment was performed at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, to evaluate the effect of different sources and application methods of phosphoric fertilizers on autumn planted maize, in 2017. The derformance of Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and Single Super Phosphate (SSP) was evaluated under two application methods (Seed Coating and Band Placement) alone and in combination. Experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times with a plot size of 3 m × 6 m. Results revealed that the application of phosphorus through seed coating and band placement significantly increased the maize yield. Maximum grain yield (7.72 t ha^-1), biological yield (19.33 t ha^-1), cob length (18.80 cm), number of grains per cob (382.9), plant height at maturity (230.0 cm), 1000-grain weight (260.3 g) and grain protein contents (9.55%) were recorded where phosphorus was applied through Single Super Phosphate seed coating and Single Super Phosphate band placement. Therefore, it is concluded that seed coating with Single Super Phosphate + band placement of Single Super Phosphate would be a better phosphorus use efficiency management strategy for the farming community in order to enhance maize production.