Sustainable Maize Production through Integrated Nutrient Management: Insights from Seasonal Variations in Central Myanmar

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a globally vital cereal crop, essential for food security and agricultural economies. With increasing demand, there is a pressing need for sustainable production systems that maintain high yields while protecting soil health and reducing reliance on chemical inputs. This study evaluated the effects of integrating maize straw as an organic amendment with inorganic fertilizers on maize performance under contrasting monsoon and post-monsoon growing conditions in central Myanmar. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with six treatments: a control (no input), organic amendment (maize straw) alone, 100% inorganic fertilizer (NPK), and combinations of maize straw with 50%, 75%, and 100% of the recommended NPK rate. Results showed that in the post-monsoon season, full inorganic fertilization produced the highest yields, and adding maize straw did not significantly increase productivity. However, during the monsoon season, integrating maize straw with inorganic fertilizers significantly improved grain yield, with the combination of maize straw and 75% NPK performing as well as the full fertilizer rate. This suggests that organic amendments enhance nutrient retention and soil resilience under high-rainfall conditions, where leaching limits the efficiency of chemical fertilizers. The findings highlight that the benefits of integrating organic and inorganic nutrient sources are season-dependent. For monsoon maize production, applying maize straw along with 75% of the standard fertilizer dose offers a sustainable, cost-effective alternative that maintains high yields while reducing chemical input use. This strategy supports climate-resilient agriculture and promotes long-term soil fertility, particularly in rainfed and resource-limited farming systems.