Enhancing maize yield through sustainable and eco-friendly practices: the impact of municipal organic waste compost and soil amendments

Municipal organic waste (MOW) compost is considered a sustainable and environmental friendly fertilizer management system throughout the world for hybrid maize production. It can enhance the production of maize by using MOW compost as a soil amendment. Therefore, two field trials were executed during November 2021-March 2022 and November 2022-March 2023 to study the consequences of compost treatments derived from MOW, MOW added with vermiculite, MOW added with cow manure, and combination of 150 kg/ha NPK fertilizer and MOW compost on maize yield and yield components. The MOW compost was applied at three levels (5, 10 and 15 t ha(-1)) in the maize field. The statistical design was a split plot with three replications. Compost levels were in the main plots, and sub-plots were four treatments (MOW, vermiculite + MOW, cow manure + MOW and a combination of 150 kg/ha NPK fertilizer with MOW compost). Each plot was 6 m(2), with 50 cm line to line and 30 cm plant to plant distance. MOW compost with NPK fertilizer significantly affected the yield and yield-contributing characters, followed by vermiculite and cow manure-added composts. These effects were more pronounced at the rate of 15 t ha(-1) compost than 10 t ha(-1). In conclusion, MOW mixed with NPK at the rate of 15 t ha(-1) was found to be the best for all studied traits of maize. This qualitative and quantitative assessment will not only provide new information about the MOW conversion methods to compost in the arid land agriculture but also will open new avenues for maize production in a significant and worthwhile way.