Phosphorus fertigation: A technique for enhancing P fertilizer efficiency and yield of wheat and maize

Methods of application of fertilizer are one of the major causes for low fertilizer Phosphorus (P) use efficiency in alkaline calcareous soils. Three-year field studies, on wheat and maize were undertaken to compare the response of P applied in the irrigation water with broadcast method. The treatments include: control (no applied P), P applied with broadcast method (farmer practice) and P applied with irrigation water (Fertigated P). Generally fertigated applied P proved to be very suitable to increase grain yield, P-uptake, agronomic efficiency and P use efficiency both in wheat and maize. In wheat, fertigated P increased grain yield by 12 to 18%, P uptake by 4 to 32%, agronomic efficiency by 11 to 20% and P use efficiency by 2 to 13% during three cropping seasons as compared to broadcast method. Similarly fertigated P caused an increase of 11% in grain yield, 18% in P-uptake, 65% in agronomic efficiency and 90% in P use efficiency over broadcast method in maize. In conclusion, the use of P fertilizer through fertigation could be a useful technique to increase grain yield and P use efficiency in cereals.