Integrated Soil Fertility Management by Application of bulk and Nano-sawdusts for Enhancing Biomass Yield and Nutrients Content of Maize Plant Grown on Different Soil Types

A pot experiment was conducted to ascertain whether the NP-enriched sawdust is an appropriate source of nutrients to replenish the shortage of mineral fertilizers added to maize plants grown in three different soils. To achieve this objective, nanoparticles of sawdust were produced, characterized and saturated with 160 mg per liter ammonium and phosphate solutions. The results revealed that the co-application of mineral fertilizers and NP-enriched bSD or nSD significantly increased dry matter production of maize plants grown on the three studied soils. The highest biomass production of maize was noticed at 0.75 mineral co-applied with 0.25 bSD or 0.025 nSD in all studied soils. More biomass production was produced at the different application rates of nSD when it is applied individually or co-applied with mineral fertilizers. The co-application effects of mineral fertilizers and NP-enriched bSD or nSD on element concentrations of maize plants grown on the three studied soils indicated to significant differences in element concentrations of maize as affected by mineral co-applied with bSD or nSD application rates. The highest element concentrations of maize was noticed at 0.75 mineral co-applied with 0.25 bSD or 0.025 nSD in all studied soils. It can be concluded that the more dry matter resulting from application of sawdust nanoparticles may due to the entry of nanoparticles through the cell wall. Moreover, bSD and nSD containing more organic carbon and other constitutes that increase the availability of studied elements.Keywords: Sawdust; Nanoparticles; Dry matter; Maize; Nutrients