Response of maize to liming and phosphorus fertilization with emphasis on weather properties effects

Abstract

The field experiment of liming (0 and 10 t ha^-1 of powdered hydrated lime) and phosphorus (P) fertilization (monoammonium phosphate or MAP: 12% N + 52% P₂O₅) started in autumn 2008 on acid soil of Laktasi municipality (Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina). Three doses of P (0, 500, 1000 and 1500 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1) on ordinary fertilization were applied. The experiment was conducted in four replicates. Basic plots of liming and P fertilization were 640 m² and 40 m², respectively. Maize was grown in monoculture. Under drought stress of 2011 and 2012 yields were considerably lower (mean 3.86 t ha^-1) than in the remaining two years (mean 9.20 t ha^-1). As affected by drought and high air-temperature, particularly in August, the 2012 growing season was especially unfavorable for maize growth because mean yield in the experiment was only 2.06 t ha^-1 or 22% of yield realized in the 2010 growing season. As affected by liming yield of maize was increased by 31% (4-year mean), while P effect was considerably lower (6.14 and 6.65 t ha^-1, for the control and average of ameliorative P treatments, respectively).