COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN SOME ORGANIC FERTILIZER SOURCES AND AMMONIUM NITRATE ON CORN AND SOIL PROPERTIES

An experiment was conducted during 1998 season in the experimental farm of Mallawy Agriculture Research Station, El-Menia Government to investigate the comparative effect of some organic fertilizer sources (filter mud cake FMC, farm yard manure FYM and sewage sludge SS) and ammonium nitrate (33.5%) as inorganic fertilizer on corn (Zea mays L.) and soil properties.  Three levels of each fertilizer source were used, 1500, 3000 and 4500 kg/fed from both FMC and S.S 10, 20 and 30 m³/fed. FYM 60, 90 and 120 kg N/fed. ammonium nitrate (33.5%).
                The results revealed that a positive influence of the addition of all organic fertilizer sources, not only on soil properties but also on the mineral nutrition of plants and yield production.  A pronounced increase in soil content of O.M., avail. P and K ppm as a result of increasing fertility levels of organic fertilizer sources, whereas pH level slightly decreased.  Sewage sludge application promoted growth in maize compared with the application of other organic or inorganic fertilizer.  Farmyard manure has shown considerable increase in plant content of both K % and P ppm than other organic or inorganic fertilizer due to higher soil microbial and biological activity in FYM treatments.