Effect of soil surface coverage and irrigation level on behavior of nitrogen, phosphorus and growth of corn plant (Zea mays L.)‎

Abstract EN

The present study was conducted at agricultural research station, Grmat Ali, college of agriculture, university of Basra, Iraq, during the agricultural season of2013-2014.

the aim was to study the effect of covering soil surface by black plastic and two levels of irrigation either adding water at 60% or 100% of field capacity.

as well as the effect of three levels of nitrogen ( 0, 30, and 60 mg n kg-1 ) and three levels of phosphorus (0, 40 , and 80 mg p kg-1).

pots divided into two groups, with and without soil coverage.

pots were planted with ten corn grains with maintain soil moisture at field capacity till germination and seedling coloring, number of seedling thinned to five.

plants harvested after 60 days from planting, and were dried and weighted.

plant samples were analyzed for nitrogen and phosphorus.

results showed that coverage treatments had increased dry matter of corn shoots and the uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus.

the results also showed the superiority of irrigation at 100% field capacity in comparison with 60% of field capacity.

increasing levels of nitrogen and phosphorus caused significant increase in dry weight, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and their uptake.