CAT4100 PRECISION AGRICULTURE
Project: Soil Analysis of Maize
in Ladang Kongsi 2
MOHD AMIN ROSLEE S18247
ROZAIDEE ZAINUL S18248
SHEREALYN ELEONA S18256
DIANA GABRIELLA S18334
Lecturer: Dr. Ong Kian Huat
INTRODUCTION
Is an annual crop plant belong
to grass family
Known as monoecious plant
Is a tall plant with fibrous root
system
Is a valuable food crop that is
consumed
as
staple
food
around the world.
(Smith and Hamel, 1999)
Requires high temperature for growth
(Balasubramaniyan and Palanippan, 2004)
Need soil with pH range from 5.0 to 8.0
Is slightly sensitive to salinity
Is not drought tolerance and low soil water is a problem
for maize
Need 500mm to 1200mm rainfall as an optimum range
(Stephanie and Christine, 2008)
Is an important cereal being cultivated after rice and wheat.
Contain 80% carbohydrate, 10% protein, 3.5% fiber, 2% mineral,
vitamin B and iron.
(Oladejo and Adetunji, 2012)
Used as animal feeds and as succulent fodder.
(Balasubramaniyan and Palaniappan, 2004)
Used
as
raw
materials
in
industries
such
as
alcohol,
pharmaceuticals, textile, organic chemicals, cosmetics, paper and
edible oil.
(Tony, 2006)
OBJECTIVE
The objective of these project are:
To investigates the nutrient deficiency in the
maize crop by using soil analysis.
To propose a suggestion to improve the
productivity of maize crop using precision
agriculture method.
METHODOLOGY
Site description
located at Ladang Kongsi Dua.
The
coordinates
is
(312'29.37"N,
113
4'55.44"E)
The research site is a Maize crop plot.
Research site located at first maize plot
which marked with yellow tag.
Table 1: Position of research site on Google earth software
(Source: Google Earth)
EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
The selection of the plot has been decided and each
group choose one of the plot provided.
The plot has been divided into a several section based
on a parameter.
1. Parameter A - Short Yellow
2. Parameter B - Tall Green
3. Parameter C - Tall Yellow
4. Parameter D - Short Green
The maize, were then harvested from the plot.
Each of harvested maize were classified based on their
parameter. The maize then were weighed and the data was
recorded
SOIL ANALYSIS
The soil sample was taken in every parameter within
the plot.
About
three
replication
were
taken
in
each
parameter by using an auger.
The soil then were dried up, combined to become
composite sample.
The soil then were proceed to soil analysis for
detection of :
Total
Nitrogen by using
Kjeldahl method
(Bremner, 1960).
Total available phosphorus using double acid
method Dilute HCL + H2SO4 Mehlich No.1 or
Double acid method (Nelson, Mehlich, &
Winters, 1953)
RESULT
Total N in soil (kg/ha)
7
Total N in soil (kg/ha)
0
Zone A
Zone B
Zone C
Zone D
Total P in soil (kg/ha)
7.6
7.5
7.4
7.3
Total P in soil (kg/ha)
7.2
7.1
6.9
Zone A
Zone B
Zone C
Zone D
Comparison of total N and total P (kg/ha)
8
0
Zone A
Zone B
Zone C
Total N
Total P
Zone D
Zone
Area
(m2 )
Available
N (kg/ha)
Total
deficient
in N
(kg/ha)
Total urea Total urea
added
added
(kg/ha)
according
to area of
zone (kg)
Zone A
35.42
4.0068
85.9932
186.94
0.6621
Zone B
173.9
5.1996
84.8004
184.35
3.2058
Zone C
99.9
1.9236
88.0764
191.47
1.9128
Zone D
13.16
6.6472
83.3528
181.20
0.2385
Zone
Area
(m2 )
Available
P (kg/ha)
Total
deficient
in P
(kg/ha)
Total TSP
added
(kg/ha)
Total TSP
added
according
to area of
zone(kg)
Zone A
35.42
7.4200
27.5800
59.96
0.2124
Zone B
173.9
7.4760
27.5240
59.83
1.0404
Zone C
99.9
7.2268
27.7732
60.38
0.6032
Zone D
13.16
7.1456
27.8544
60.55
0.0797
TOTAL AND WEIGHT OF COBS
OBTAINED AS YIELD
Zone
Total cobs
Weight of
Zone A
26
cobs (kg)
8
Zone B
80
31.25
Zone C
103
27.75
Zone D
0.35
DISCUSSION
There have differences in zoning and the yield production of
maize crop.
The highest weight of yield is zone B which is 31.25 kg.
The lowest zone for the weight of yield production is zone D
which is 0.35 kg.
The zone B shows the highest yield because the crops are tall
and green.
The zone D consist of short and green maize crop that shows
the maize growth was stunted and low in productivity.
Graphs showing total of Nitrogen in soil according to zone
Total N content
140
120
100
80
Total N content
60
40
20
Zone A
Zone B
Zone C
Zone D
DISCUSSION
The highest total nitrogen in the soil is Zone D
which is 118.70 mg/kg.
Zone D consist of short and green maize crop.
The lowest total nitrogen in the soil is Zone C
which is 34.35 mg/kg.
Zone C consist of tall and yellowish maize crop.
The difference in physical appearance of maize crop
(crop status) is affected by total nitrogen in soil.
Graphs showing total of Phosphorus in soil according to zone.
Total P content
13.4
13.3
13.2
13.1
13
Total P content
12.9
12.8
12.7
12.6
12.5
12.4
Zone A
Zone B
Zone C
Zone D
DISCUSSION
Zone B has the highest total available P which is
13.35 mg/kg.
The weight of yield is high because the supply of
phosphorus is efficient.
Adequate growth because sufficient phosphorus
supply.
The lowest total P is Zone D which is 12.76 mg/kg.
Low supply of P fertilizer and the yield become low.
RECOMMENDATION
Zone
A
Amount of fertiliser required (N)
186.94kg/ha urea
In 35.42m2 = 0.6621kg urea
184.35kg/ha urea
In 173.9m2 = 3.2058kg urea
191.47kg/ha urea
In 99.9m2 = 1.9128kg urea
181.20kg/ha urea
In 13.16m2 = 0.2385kg urea
N fertilizer (Urea = 46% N)
The nitrogen is very important in crop growth.
The availability of nitrogen strongly affects both
the potential leaf area expansion rate and light use
efficiency (Sinclair and Horie, 1989; Uhart and
Andrade, 1995).
So, we suggest urea fertilizer application in
maize farm.
Zone
A
Amount of fertilizer required (P)
59.96kg/ha TSP
35.42m2 = 0.2124kg TSP need to add.
59.83kg/ha TSP
173.9m2 = 1.0404kg TSP need to add.
60.38kg/ha TSP
99.9m2 =0.6032kg TSP need to add.
60.55kg/ha TSP
13.16m2 =0.0797kg TSP need to add.
Triple superphosphate = 46% P
Suboptimal phosphorus availability is a primary
limitation to plant growth (Vance et al., 2003).
Tropical soils Asia has phosphorus availability
limited by low total phosphorus content as well as
high phosphorus xation (Sanchez and Uehara,
1980).
We recommended the fertiliser application based
on parameter given above.
Regression line
(total N against yield)
35
30
25
f(x) = - 0.23x + 35.06
R = 0.3
20
Yield ,kg
15
10
5
0
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Total N, mg/kg
100 110 120 130
Regression line
(total P against yield)
35
30
25
20
Yield,kg
f(x) = 24.99x - 309.74
R = 0.21
15
10
5
0
12.7
12.8
12.9
13
13.1
Total P,mg/kg
13.2
13.3
13.4
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, by using soil analysis in
nutrient deficiency investigation technique
can
be
put
to
consideration
productivity for future purposes.
in
corn
APPENDICES
REFERENCES
Balasubramaniyan, P., and Palaniappan, SP. 2004. Principles and Practices
of Agronomy. Agrobios, India. Pp. 22-185.
Smith, D. L., and Hamel, C. 1999. Crop yield: Physiology and Process.
Springer, Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. Pp. 170-171.
Stephanie, B. and Christine, B. 2008. Field Crop Manual: Maize. The State
of New South Wales NSW Department of Primary Industries 2008.
Oladejo, J.A. and Adetunji, M.O. 2012. Economic analysis of maize (Zea
mays L.) production in Oyo state of Nigeria. Agricultural Science Research
Journals, Vol. 2(2): 77-83.
Tony, W. 2006. Growing Food: A guide to food production. Springer, The
Netherlands. Pp. 29-118.
Bremner, J. (1960). Determination of nitrogen in soil by the Kjeldahl method.
The
Journal
of
Agricultural
Science.
Retrieved
from
http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0021859600021572
Nelson, W., Mehlich, A., & Winters, E. (1953). The development, evaluation,
and use of soil tests for phosphorus availability. Agronomy. Retrieved from
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?
q=mehlich+1+method+for+phosphorus&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5#1
THANK YOU
