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