IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2013) 4-2

Research article
erd

The Influence of Different Types of Fertilizers on
Productivity and Quality of Maize in the Area of Kwaew
Noi Bamrungdan Dam, Phitsanulok Province, Thailand
PUMISAK INTANON*
Faculty of Agriculture Natural Resources and Environment, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok,
Thailand
Email: pumisak_intanon@hotmail.com, pumisakintanon@gmail.com
Received 15 December 2012

Accepted 30 January 2013(*Corresponding Author)

Abstract The purpose of this research was to improve the productivity and quality of corn.
The test plant was located at Moo 2 Ban Nongping, Tha-Ngarm sub-district, Watbot
District, Phitsanulok province, Thailand; and the test was undertaken throughout June
2011 to September 2011. Six experimental models were arranged in RCBD with three
replications consisting of eighteen field plots. Each model was designated as T0 (nofertilizer: Control group), T1 (pellet organic fertilizer from farm manure), T2 (granularorganic bio-fertilizer), T3 (chemical and granular organic fertilizer), T4 (chemicalfertilizer from the soil analysis programs) and T5 (chemical and granular organic fertilizer
with hormones mixed formula). Each type of fertilizer was used at a rate of fifty (50)
kilograms per Rai. The corn seed used in the testing was type NK#48. Plant environmental
data, vegetative growth data were collected every ten days. Yields, yield components andproduction costs were also collected. The data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA
and DMRT at a 95% level of confidence. The analysis on the chemical property of thefertilizers indicated the maximum macro-nutrients ranking from Nitrogen, Potassium, andPhosphorus, respectively. The model having the highest macro-nutrients was T4 (chemicalfertilizer from soil analysis programs). The model containing the highest secondary
nutrients was T5 (chemical and granular organic fertilizer with hormones mixed formula).
The vegetative growth data which was the measure of the stem heights and size, leaf
length and leaf width were designated T4, T5, T3, T2, T1 and T0, respectively. It was
clear that this result was a function of the Nitrogen level contained in the fertilizers.
According to the study results on yield components in terms of the length and a diameterof corn ear, total weight per corn ear, weight of kernels per ear and weight of 100 kernels,
the maximum outputs were ranked from T4, T5, T3, T2, T1 and T0 models. The highest
number of withered kernels and the heaviest corn husk were T0, T1, and T2, respectively.
The models having greatest weight productivity per Rai were T4, T5, T3, T2, T1 and T0
models (1,319 kg, 1,305 kg, 970 kg, 857 kg, 775 kg, and 428 kg respectively). The results
indicated that there was no statistically significant difference between T5 and T4 models in
relation to the weight productivity per Rai. In the study of total production costs, it was
found that the minimum production costs per Rai were T0, T5, T2, T1, T3 and T4 models( 8,288, 8,538, 9,080, 9,238, 9,438, 10,108 Baht per Rai, respectively). When comparedwith the yields, the least cost of corn production per one kilogram were T5 and T4 models
with no statistically significant difference between the two. Therefore, the model thatshould be encouraged and promoted to the farmers for sustainable production was T5
model; this type of fertilizer contained a balance of nutrients, soil amendments andeffective microorganisms. In addition, it provided high productivity with the highest
financial return.
Keywords fertilizer, influence of fertilizers, maize, quality of corn

INTRODUCTION
The farmers at Moo 2 Ban Nongpling, Tha-Ngarm sub-district, Watbot District, Phitsanulok© ISERD
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IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2013) 4-2

province, Thailand utilize water from Kwaew Noi Bamrungdan dam located in Phitsanulok
Province to irrigate their corn farms. The use of the current chemical fertilizers leads to soil
deterioration, hard and compact soil making it difficult for water and air to penetrate, soil erosion
due to rain, strong acid soil, and higher production cost (Intanon et al., 2011).
OBJECTIVE
Therefore, this demonstrative research project investigated the influence of fertilizers on yield andyield components and corn quality in the area of Kwaew Noi Bamrungdan dam as a learning
resource and solution for the farmers.
METHODOLOGY
1. The experimental plan: Six experimental models were arranged in RCBD with three
replications consisting of eighteen field plots. Each model was designated as T0 (no fertilizer:
Control group), T1 (pellet organic fertilizer from farm manure), T2 (granular organic bio-fertilizer),
T3 (chemical and granular organic fertilizer), T4 (chemical fertilizer from soil analysis programs)
and T5 (chemical and granular organic fertilizer with hormones mixed formula: An Innovation of
the Faculty of Agriculture Natural Resources and Environment, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok
Province, Thailand. The mixture of fertilizers used in the experiment was in Table.1.Each type of
fertilizer was used at a rate of fifty (50) kilograms per Rai. In addition, the corn seeds used in thetesting, three kilogram per Rai was type NK#48. The size of each plant plot was 10X20 meters or
200 square meters. The test was located at Moo 2 Ban Nongpling, Tha-Ngarm sub-district, Watbot
District, Phitsanulok province, Thailand and the test period was from June 2011 to September 2011.
Table 1 The mixture of fertilizers used in the experiment
Types of fertilizers
T1 (pellet organic
fertilizer from farmmanure)T2 (granular organic
bio-fertilizer)
T3 (chemical andgranular organic
fertilizer)
T4 (chemical fertilizer
from the soil
analysis program)
T5 (chemical andgranular organic
fertilizer withhormones mixed
formula)Sources: Intanon (2009)

Ratio per weight of 50 kilograms
Soil mixed
Rice bran
DilutedEM
meal
molasses
(20%)
(10%)
(10%)
Bagasse Rice bran
Mung Bean Diluted
silagemeal
compostmolasses
(30%)
(10%)
(10%)
(10%)

Pig manure powder(60%)
Pig manure
powder(40%)

Granular organic fertilizer from farmmanure (50%)
Urea 46-0-0= 21 kg (39 %)ChemicalFertilizer
15-15-15=10 kg(20%)

Pig
manurepowder
(30%)

Total
-

100%

-

100%

Chemical fertilizer
46-0-0 (50%)

100%

Phosphorus 0-46-0= 18kg (33%)

Potassium 0-0-60= 15kg (28%)

100%

Rock
phosphateanddolomite
1:1 (20%)Extract
herballiquid(10%)

100%

Bio liquid
fertilizer(10%)

Organic
hormones(10%)

2. Data collection: the data collection consisted of information as follows: 1) weather condition at
the field plots; 2) analysis of soil before and after the experiment by exploring N- P- K, pH, OM
and the analysis of pH water; 3) analysis of the Major-nutrients (N, P, K) and the secondary
nutrients (Ca, Mg, S) of fertilizers used in the experiment. These tests were conducted at the Soil
Science Lab, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand; 4) data on the vegetative growthcollected every ten days (e.g. the stem height, stem size, number of stems per square meter, thenumber of leaf per stem, leaf length, and leaf width; 5) data on yields and yield components( e.g.
the length of corn ear , a diameter of corn ear, corn ears per square meter, number of healthy andwithered kernels per corn ear, the total weight per corn ear, the weight of corn husk per corn ear,

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IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2013) 4-2

the weight of corn cob, the weight of kernels per corn ear, weight of 100 kernels and the weightyield per Rai; 6) data on the total production costs. The data were statistically analyzed using
ANOVA and DMRT model at a 95% level of confidence used for comparison of treatments.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The weather condition and plant environment at the field plots during the test period of June 2011
to September 2011 showed that temperature ranged between 23-36oC, the norm for this area, therainfall ranged from 190-460 millimeters which was a high density of rainfall (Japkaew and
Intanon, 2010). The analysis of soil chemical property before and after the experiment indicates inTable 2. The soil consists of sandy loam with laterite, it was in poor conditions, with a low pH(acid soil), a low level of organic matter, and a very low level of phosphorus and potassium (Table
2).
Table 2 Soil chemical property before and after the experiment
Treatments
Before the experiment
After the experimentT0 (no fertilizer)
T1( pellet organic fertilizer from farm manure)
T2 (granular organic bio-fertilizer)
T3 (chemical and granular organic fertilizer)
T4 (chemical fertilizer from the soil analysis
programs)
T5 (chemical and granular organic fertilizer withhormones mixed formula).

pH

OM %

N%

P%

K%

..1

0.66

6.45

6.1.

6.66.4

pH
water
0.1

5.7
5.9
5.9
5.8

0.76
0.86
0.98
0.95

0.45
0.92
0.94
1.34

0.00346.004.
6.00656.00540.00..
6.66.1
6.6614
6.66..

0.1
6.7
6.8
6.7

5.7

0.75

1.67

6.008.

6.66.1

6.5

5.8

0.95

1.72

6.00746.6644

1.6

The analysis of fertilizers nutrients used in the experiment illustrated in Table 3. It was foundthe highest nutrients ranked as follows: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium respectively. The
models that contained maximum macro-nutrients were T4, T5, T3, T2, and T1 (54.00%, 34.00%,
27.83%, 3.41%, and 3.23%, respectively). The models that contained maximum secondary
nutrients were T5, T2, T1, T3 and T4 (7.15%, 4.55%, 2.99%, 2.73%, and 0%, respectively).
T5 model had the maximum secondary nutrients due to the mixture of rock phosphate and dolomite
which contained high secondary nutrients. Some secondary nutrients were in liquid, organic andorganic hormones. Contrary to T5, T4 model was a mixture of chemical fertilizers containing
macro-nutrients, as a result, there was no secondary nutrient in it (Table 3).
Table 3 Analyzing of macro-nutrients and secondary nutrients of fertilizers
applied in the experiments
Treatments
T0 control (no fertilizer)
T1( pellet organic fertilizer)
T2 (granular organic biofertilizer)
T3 (chemical and granularorganic fertilizer)
T4 (chemical fertilizer by soil
analysis programs)
T5 (chemical and granularorganic fertilizer withhormones mixed formula)

pH
6.8

OM
(%)
14.51

N
(%)
1.44

P
(%)
6.61.

K
(%)
6.61.

Total
(%)
3.23

Ca
(%)
6.4.

Mg
(%)
6.14

S
(%)
210.

Total
(%)
2.99

6.8

12.22

1.21

6.61.

6.61.

3.41

0.68

0.65

3.22

4.55

7.0

5.14

41.41

6.61.

0.644

27.83

0.62

0.46

1.65

2.73

7.2

0.0

21.02

14.00. 15.00

54.00

6.6

6.6

6.6

6.6

7.5

3.14

15.14

12.404

0.500

34.00

1..

6.4.

2.46

7.15

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IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2013) 4-2

Table 4 Vegetative growths analysis
stemheightTreatments

stem size

numberof leaves
per plant
42d
64c
68b

leaf
lengthleaf
width

numberstem per
m2
7.6d
7.7d
8.2c

T0 (no fertilizer)
158.2d1.156e42d
2.1d
T1( pellet organic fertilizer)
230.4c1.784b64c
3.2c
T2 (granular organic bio-fertilizer)
241.9b
1.856c68b
3.3c
T3 (chemical and granular organic
9.8a
247.6b
1.954b71b
71b
3.5b
fertilizer)
T4 (chemical fertilizer from the soil
8.8b
257.5a1.985b82a
82a
3.8a
analysis programs)
T5 (chemical and granular organic fertilizer
9.5a
255.6a2.112a80a80a
3.8awith hormones mixed formula).
F-Test
*
*
*
*
*
*
% CV
8.7
8.4
9.5
9.5
0.6
4.2
*Significant at 95% confident interval in each column of the same period, the different in small letter indicatedsignificant at 95% by DMRT

Table 5 Yields and yield components
Treatments
T0 (no fertilizer)
T1( pellet organic
fertilizer)
T2 (granular organic
bio-fertilizer)
T3 (chemical andgranular organic
fertilizer)
T4 (chemicalfertilizer by soil
analysis programs)
T5 (chemical andgranular organic
fertilizer withhormones mixed
formula)length diameter total number numberof corn of corn ear weight of kernel of cornear(cm) per corn per ear per square(cm)ear (g)
meter
14.7d

4.7d

167e

446d

1a

numberofwitheredkernels
per ear61e

weightofkernels
per ear(g)
105eweightof 100kernels(g)weight ofyieldscorn ear (kg/Rai)with kernels
removed

30c

35.3c

428e

17.2c

5.4c

300d

241c

1a

32d

198d

34c

66.9b

775d

19.3b

6.2b

324c

2..c

1a

18c

210c

42b

65.4b

857c

19.3b

6.5b

329b

.24a

1a

8b

229b

47a

64.8b

970b

21.1a

7.2a

338a

.16b

1a

5a

235a

49a

67.3b

1,319a

20.4a

7.1a

343a

.16b

1a

4a

234a

49a

72.6a

1,305aThe vegetative growth analysis showed the T3, T4, and T5 models having the most effective
vegetative growth development as they contained high macro-nutrients from the chemicalfertilizers that dissolve quickly, delivering nutrients to the plants in a form that are quickly
absorbed. However, T1 and T2 models, slow-release organic fertilizers contain less nutrientsresulting in the slowing down the vegetative growth. In the case of T5 model, it promoted
vegetative growth more effectively than the other chemical fertilizers due to the nutrient balance ofthe fertilizer which provided macro-nutrients, secondary nutrients and micro-nutrient (Intanon,
2000). The effectiveness get from the result of by mixed formula components of dolomite and rockphosphate containing high levels of secondary nutrients (Ca, Mg, S) and from the bio liquid
fertilizer and organic hormones components which contained micro-nutrients (Table 4).
The yields and yield components analysis was found that the maximum output production per
Rai was ranked T4, T5, T3, T2, T1, and T0 models. Interestingly, the data showed no statisticaldifference between T4 and T5 with respect to production yields. This resulted from the three typesof nutrients found in abundance in the T4 model responsible for rapid corn growth. In addition, theanalysis of soil chemical elements and the host plants before adding needed nutrients helped topromote corn growth. In case of T5 which also had high yields, there were high amount of macronutrients, secondary nutrients and micro nutrients in the fertilizer. It was clear that these balance
nutrients were required for corn production (Intanon, 2009). When considering soil improvement
and preservation for sustainable yield of crops between models T4 and T5, the T5 model seemed to
be a worthy choice for farmers who grow corn in poor physical soil condition (Table 5).

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The total production costs analysis was found that the minimum production costs per Rai was
T0, T5, T2, T1, T3, and T4 models (8,288, 8,538, 9,080, 9,238, 9,438, and 10,108 Baht per Rai,
respectively). Compared with the yields, the least-cost rice production per kilogram were ranked
from T5, T4, T3, T2, T1, to T0 models (6.54, 7.66, 9.73, 10.6, 11.92, and 19.36 Baht per kilogram,respectively), as shown in Table 6 (Intanon et al., 2010).
Table 6 The total production costs
Description
T0
T1
T2
T3
T4
ploughing and levelling (2 times
600
600
600
600
600
x 300 Baht/Rai)
2. Seeds (1,400 Baht/ bag/5 Rai)
Seeds used 2 bags in total so the
448
448
448
448
448
cost was 280 Baht/Rai. Seeds
used per 1.6 Rai
3. fertilizer/bag, Baht/bag
400
550
650
850
4. plant growth hormones for
supplementary food per Rai for
200
200
200
200
200
speeding up kernel production
when corn silk develops (1 time)
5. pesticide per Rai (2 times)
400
400
400
400
400
6. insecticide as needed per Rai
200
200
200
200
200
(1 time )7. fuel for water pump and looking
800
800
800
800
800
after crops
8. labour costs for harvesting
440
440
440
440
440
9. transportation (Baht/ton)
300
300
300
300
300
total expense (Baht/Rai)
3,600
4,000
3,700
3,950
4,420
10. labour costs during corn
1,300
1,450
1,450
1,450
1,450
production*
total cost (Baht/Rai)
8,288
9,238
9,080
9,438
10,108corn yield (kg/Rai)
428
775
857
970
1,319
cost of corn yield/kg
19.36
11.92
10.60
9.73
7.66
* labour costs during corn production listed as follows:
1. labour costs for ploughing and levelling (2 times X 1 person X 100 Baht/Rai) = 200 B.
2. labour costs for direct seeding (1 time X 1 person X 100 Baht/Rai)= 100 B.
3. labour costs for fertilizer application (2 times X 1 person X 75 Baht/Rai)= 150 B.
4. labour costs for spraying hormones after development of corn silk
(1 time X 1 person X 50 Baht/Rai)= 50 B.
5. labour costs for spraying pesticide (2 times X 1 person X 50 Baht/Rai)= 100 B.
6. labour costs for spraying insecticide (1time X 1 person X 50 Baht/Rai)= 50 B.
7. labour costs for caring the crops (800 Baht/Rai)= 800 B.
(T0 model did not use fertilizer so there was no cost for fertilizer application)
1.

T5
600

448
700
400
800
440
300
3,700
1,450
8,538
1,305
6.54

CONCLUSION
According to the research findings, it can be concluded as follows:
1. The fertilizer contained the most macro-nutrients was T4 model (Nitrogen, Potassium, andPhosphorus, respectively) and T5 model contained the most secondary nutrients (Sulphur, Calcium,
and Magnesium, respectively).
2. From the vegetative growth analysis, the models that had the most effective vegetative growthdevelopment were T4, T5, T3, T2, T1, and T0, respectively. But between T4 and T5 models show
no statistical significance.
3. The data on yields and yield components revealed that the maximum output production per Rai
were ranked T4, T5, T3, T2, T1, and T0 models (1,313, 1,305, 970, 857, 775, and 428
kilogram/Rai). And there was no statistically difference between T4 and T5 in relation for
producing similar amount of yields due to high amount of macro-nutrients, secondary nutrients,and micro- nutrients in the fertilizer and a balance of each nutrient.
4. The minimum total expenses per Rai were T0, T5, T2, T1, T3, and T4 models, respectively;
however, T0 and T1 models had the lowest corn production costs per Rai whereas, T5 and T4© ISERD
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IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2013) 4-2

models had the lowest corn production costs per kilogram and the best return on investment.
5. T5 model should be promoted for sustainable agriculture as this type of fertilizer maximizes crop
yields with the greatest financial return while providing a balance and complete range of nutrients,
soil amendments and effective microorganisms.
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Chuinon, C. and Intanon, P. 2011 .Development of high quality of bio liquid fertilizerfor rice production.
Naresuan University Journal, 19(2), May-August, 8-18. Phitsanulok, Thailand.
Israngkul Na-ayuthaya, A. 1991. The pest control by herb extract liquid. Bio pesticide article. Department ofAgricultural science Ministry of Agriculture and cooperatives, 198-205.
Intanon, P. 2000. Development of bio organic fertilizer from agricultural waste for reduce of cost production.
The project final report. Fiscal year budget 2000. Naresuan University, Pitsanulok, Thailand.
Intanon, P. 200.. The construction of pilot plant of bio organic fertilizer integrated formula. The project final
report. Fiscal year budget 2005. Naresuan University, Pitsanulok, Thailand.
Intanon, P. 2009. Fertilizer technology .Department of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture Natural
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Intanon, P., Sawamichai, R. and Kluay-Ngern, B., 2011. Development of compound granular organic
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60-70. Phitsanulok, Thailand.
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Proceeding of the 7th Naresuan research conference. Naresuan University, Pitsanulok, Thailand. 250-255.

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