Response of maize (Zea mays) to organic and inorganic fertilizer sources on soil under intensive continuous cultivation

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during the wet season of 2019 at the experimental plot of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (I.A.R&T),  Moor Plantation, Ibadan. The aim is to examine the response of maize to organic and inorganic fertilizer on soil under intensive continuous cultivation.  Initial soil samples were collected randomly from experimental plots and analyzed. The experiment was carried out using four treatments, organic,  inorganic, organic plus inorganic, and control with each replicated three times. Each plot has a dimension of 3m x 4m. Agronomic parameters observed  were plant height (cm), number of leaves (leaf area index, LAI), stover’s weight, ear weight, and yield of grain. After harvesting, soil samples were  collected to measure changes in soil properties. Calcium, magnesium, and sodium improved significantly after the application of organic and inorganic -  compared to other treatments. The result shows that plot treated with organic plus inorganic fertilizer (poultry manure + NPK) had the highest yield of  1.03t/ha compared to inorganic (NPK) 0.87t/ha, organic (poultry manure) 0.71t/ha and control which had no treatment has the least yield of 0.15t/ha.  Therefore, inorganic plus organic were recommended for optimum and sustainable production on degraded soil.