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