The effect of slow release fertilizer, bagasse and sugarcane biochar on yield, water consumption productivity and nitrogen leaching in summer maize cultivation in Ahvaz

One of the methods to reduce nitrate leaching is the use of slow release fertilizers as well as the application of soil conditioners. In order to investigate the effect of slow release fertilizer, bagasse and sugarcane biochar on grain yield, water consumption productivity and nitrogen leaching in maize cultivation, factorial experiment in a complete-random block design with two factors including types of fertilizer (N1: ordinary urea fertilizer and N2: nitrogel urea fertilizer) and ratios of soil conditioner (B1; 0% bagasse and 0% biochar, B2; 100% bagasse and 0% biochar, B3; 75% of bagasse and 25% biochar, B4; 50% bagasse and 50% biochar, B5; 25% bagasse and 75% biochar, B6; zero percent bagasse and 100% biochar) in 3 replications in 2019 was performed in the research farm of Khuzestan Agricultural Research and Training Center.The results showed that the use of slow release fertilizer increased grain and biomass yield, water consumption productivity, nitrogen recycling efficiency and crop efficiency of 17.1%, 25.5%, 16.7%, 75.4% and 16.8% respectively, compared to control treatment (N1B1). Also, the use of soil conditioners increased grain and biomass yield, water consumption productivity, nitrogen recycling efficiency and crop efficiency of 19.1%, 29.8%, 19.0%, 85.7%, and 19.1% respectively, in compare with control treatment and decreased drainage water and nitrate leaching of 36.2% and 58.3% in compare with control treatment. The maximum water consumption productivity occurred in N2B3 treatment with 1.26 kg/m3, the minimum nitrate leaching related to N2B6 with 7.1 kg/ha and the maximum nitrogen recycling efficiency occurred in N2B6 treatment with 74.8%. In general, the obtained results indicate the ability of slow release fertilizers and soil conditioners to decrease the problems caused by nitrogen leaching and increase the yield and water consumption productivity in summer maize cultivation.