Soil fertility has consistently declined in the wake of injudicious use of synthetic fertilizers in exhaustive crops. It is the need of time to develop sustainable approaches that may maximize crop yield without deteriorating soil fertility. An experimental trial was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, to find out whether exogenously applied soil microbes may enhance maize (Zea mays L.) growth and production when applied in the presence of biochar and farmyard manure (FYM). We applied two levels of effective microbes (EM; with and without EM) along with three application rates of biochar (0, 7.5 and 15 t ha^-1) and three levels of FYM (no FYM, fresh FYM and composted FYM). A randomized complete block design was used with each treatment replicated thrice. Effective microbes non-significantly delayed tasseling, silking and physiological maturity. Maize phenology delayed with a higher biochar application rate in the presence of composted FYM.  A higher biochar rate (15 t ha^-1) along with fresh FYM produced taller plants and heavier grains while a moderate biochar rate (7.5 t ha^-1) in the presence of composted FYM produced wider leaves and numerous grains ear^-1. A moderate biochar rate and composted FYM recorded higher stover, grain and biological yield in the presence of effective microbes. This may imply that effective microbes may efficiently benefit from the presence of biochar and manures and enhance maize production significantly. However, care should be taken in choosing biochar application rate and manures should be properly decomposed prior to field application in short duration crops such as Maize.

Key words

Biochar

Effective microbes

Integrated nutrient management

Maize