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Abstract
This study took place under silty loam soil conditions at the Al-Musayyib project site (Babil Governorate, Iraq) from 15 July to 10 November 2024, to assess the interactive effects of biofertilizers, applied organic manure, and boron foliar application on yield attributes of maize (Zea mays L. Al-Maha). An experiment laid down in factorial arrangements in randomized complete block design (RCBD) consisted of three factors: an Azotobacter and Azospirillum seed inoculation (uninoculated, inoculated) and sheep manure in quantities of 0, 10, and 20 Mg ha⁻¹ and boron (boric acid) applied as a foliar treatment at levels of 0, 75, and 150 mg L⁻¹. Biofertilization in combination with high rates of organic manure and foliar spraying of boron gave great responses in the major yield components of dry matter yield, grains per cob, and total grain yield. The three-way interaction between the applied treatments achieved a significant contribution in synergy for all measured yield attributes. The results point towards the opportunity for integrated nutrient management to improve maize productivity under silty loam conditions as a feasible alternative to conventional fertilization approaches
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References
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- Abdel-Mawgoud, A. M. R., El-Naggar, A. H., & El-Sayed, S. A. (2020). The integration of bio and organic fertilizers improve plant growth, grain yield, quality and metabolism of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.). Agronomy, 10(3), 319. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10030319
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- Sahouki, M. M. (1990). Yellow maize: Its production and improvement. University of Baghdad, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Iraq, p. 488.
- Vincent, J. M. (1970). A manual for the practical study of root-nodule bacteria (IBP Handbook No. 15). Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications. https://archive.org/details/manualforpractic0000vinc
- Wang, J., Sun, N., Xu, M., Wang, S., Zhang, J., Cai, Z., & Cheng, Y. )2019(. The influence of long-term animal manure and crop residue application on abiotic and biotic N immobilization in an acidified agricultural soil. Geoderma, 337, 710-717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.10.022
References
Aasfar, A., Kadmiri, I. M., Azaroual, S. E., Lemriss, S., El Mernissi, N., Bargaz, A., Zeroual, Y., & Hilali, A. (2024). Agronomic advantage of bacterial biological nitrogen fixation on wheat plant growth under contrasting nitrogen and phosphorus regimes. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15, 1388775. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1388775
Abdel-Mawgoud, A. M. R., El-Naggar, A. H., & El-Sayed, S. A. (2020). The integration of bio and organic fertilizers improve plant growth, grain yield, quality and metabolism of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.). Agronomy, 10(3), 319. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10030319
Abdullah, D. F. )2023(. Evaluation of the Agricultural Reality of the Industrial Yellow Corn Crop in the Iraqi Province of Kirkuk. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 1262, No. 10, p. 102012). IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1262/10/102012
Abu Dhahi, Y. M., & Mohammed, H. A. (2013). The role of foliar application of manganese and boron under water stress conditions on maize (Zea mays L.) yield traits and water use efficiency. Diyala Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 5(1), 239–250. https://iasj.rdd.edu.iq/journals/journal/issue/12902
AG, B., Rashwan, E., & El-Sharkawy, T. A. (2017). Effect of organic manure, antioxidant and proline on corn (Zea mays L.) grown under saline conditions. Environment, Biodiversity and Soil Security, 1(2017), 203-217. https://doi.org/10.21608/jenvbs.2018.2513.1021
Ajeel, M. R., & Al-Hakeim, M. S. (2024). The Influence of Biological and Organic Fertilization and Boron Spraying in Some Soil Characteristics. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 1371, No. 8, p. 082022). IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1371/8/082022
Baral, B. R., & Adhikari, P. (2013). Effect of Azotobacter on growth and yield of maize. SAARC Journal of Agriculture, 11(2), 141-147. https://doi.org/10.3329/sja.v11i2.18409
Bayar, J., Shah, S., Khan, W., Ali, S., Ahmad, M., & Khan, A. (2024). Boron foliar application improves growth, yield and grain quality of maize. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 33(3), 3079–3089. https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/177183
Bhateria, R., Rimmy, Yogita, & Kumar, S. (2022). Role of Plant–Microbe Interactions in Combating Salinity Stress. In Plant Stress Mitigators: Action and Application (pp. 259-280). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7759-5_13
Fakirah, A. B., & Alshabi, G. (2015). Effect of Different Levels of Bio-fertilizer and Plant Population on the Grain Yield and Yield Components of Corn (Zea mays. L). Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.12816/0030446
García-Fraile, P., Menéndez, E., and Rivas, R. )2015(. Role of bacterial biofertilizers in agriculture and forestry. Aims Bioengineering, 2(3), 183-205. https://doi.org/10.3934/bioeng.2015.3.183
Gerdemann, J. W., & Nicolson, T. H. (1963). Spores of mycorrhizal Endogone species extracted from soil by wet sieving and decanting. Transactions of the British Mycological Society, 46(2), 235–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0007-1536(63)80079-0
Huthily, K. H., Al-Dogagy, K. A., & Kalaf, M. A. (2020). Effect of nitrogen fertilization and foliar application of zinc in growth and yield of maize (Zea Mays L.). International Journal of Agricultural Stat. Science, 16, 1375-1380. https://connectjournals.com/03899.2020.16.1375
Khan, K. S., Ali, M. M., Naveed, M., Rehmani, M. I. A., Shafique, M. W., Ali, H. M., Abdelsalam, N. R., Ghareeb, R. Y., & Feng, G. (2022). Co-application of organic amendments and inorganic P increase maize growth and soil carbon, phosphorus availability in calcareous soil. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10, 949371. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.949371
Khreibet, H. K., Saleh, H. A., & Shalal, H. K. (2014). Boron spraying and its effect on grain yield and its components in sorghum. Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 45(5), 470-478. https://www.iraqoaj.net/iasj/article/222318
Kumar, P. A., Mehera , B., & Kumar , P. (2023). Effect of Foliar Application of Boron and Silicon on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.). International Journal of Plant & Soil Science, 35(14), 256–262. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2023/v35i143043
Pandey, A. N. and P. Verma.)2017(. Boron deficiency and toxicity and their tolerance in plants: a review. Journal of Global Biosciences. 6(4): 4958-4965. https://jgb.uorajg.in/index.php/jgb/article/view/4958
Reddy, S. R. P. K., Debbarma, V., and Reddy, K. )2023(. Influence of Biofertilizers and Organic Liquid Nutrients on Growth, Yield and Economics of Maize (Zea mays L.). International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 13(7), 724-731. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2023/v13i71925
Sahib, M. R. A. A. M. (2024). The Influencer of Biological and Organic Fertilization and Boron Spraying in Some Growth and Yield Properties of Maize. Euphrates Journal of Agricultural Science, 16(1). https://iasj.rdd.edu.iq/journals/journal/issue/15234
Sahouki, M. M. (1990). Yellow maize: Its production and improvement. University of Baghdad, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Iraq, p. 488.
Vincent, J. M. (1970). A manual for the practical study of root-nodule bacteria (IBP Handbook No. 15). Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications. https://archive.org/details/manualforpractic0000vinc
Wang, J., Sun, N., Xu, M., Wang, S., Zhang, J., Cai, Z., & Cheng, Y. )2019(. The influence of long-term animal manure and crop residue application on abiotic and biotic N immobilization in an acidified agricultural soil. Geoderma, 337, 710-717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.10.022