Turning Green Waste into Gold: A Novel Approach to Sustainable Organic Fertilization for Enhanced Maize Yield in Comparison to NPK Fertilizer.

Abstract: Inorganic fertilizers have long been recognized for their adverse environmental impacts, prompting a quest for sustainable alternatives. This study delves into the rapid conversion of residual plant biomass into organic fertilizer, presenting an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution. The effects of this novel fertilizer on maize growth, development, and yield were meticulously compared to traditional NPK 20:10:5 fertilizers and rabbit manure. Three unique organic fertilizers were synthesized from a blend of eleven types of residual dry plant biomass, incorporating calcium hydroxide, clay soil, and thiourea for optimized maize application. The most promising formulation demonstrated significant nutrient content, including Total nitrogen (2.18%), Total phosphorus (1.80%), Total potassium (3.77%), and Total Carbon (37.40%), with a pH of 5. Impressively, maize plants treated with this synthesized fertilizer reached a maximum height of 171.45 cm, outperforming both NPK fertilizer (134.0 cm) and rabbit manure (121.92 cm). Moreover, maize yield was significantly enhanced with the synthesized fertilizer, particularly with fertilizer C boasting a weight of 287.38 g. Notably, this fertilizer exhibited both rapid and slow nutrient release dynamics, with 11% thiourea incorporation yielding superior results. Additionally, post-harvest soil analysis revealed higher residual organic matter content with the synthesized fertilizer, coupled with controlled nutrient release patterns (N ≈ 91.25%, P ≈ 76.11%, K ≈ 90.64%). This underscores the potential of utilizing agricultural plant residues in organic fertilization practices, offering a sustainable approach to soil enrichment and crop production.