Comparative effectiveness of different levels of poultry manure with NPK fertilizer on residual soil fertility, nutrient uptake and yield of maize

Abstract

The comparative effectiveness of residual effects of 300 kg/ha NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer, 7t/ha poultry manure (Pm), five combinations of reduced levels of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer and poultry manure, and control (no fertilizer) on soil and plant nutrient uptake and maize yield were investigated in a field trial during the 1996 and 1997 second cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (7o 16” N, 5 o 12”E), Nigeria. The soil type of the trial site was lowly fertile loamy sand. Application of poultry manure, and combinations of poultry manure with NPK fertilizer gave high residual effects on soil chemical composition and increased plant height, leaf area, dry matter yield, plant nutrient uptake and grain yield of maize significantly. Residual effects of poultry manure, and combined application of reduced quantities of poultry manure and NPK fertilizer gave higher soil organic matter, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and micro-elements contents compared to application of 300 kg/ha NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer and control. The residual effects of 3t/ha poultry manure plus 200kg/ha NPK fertilizer and 7t/ha poultry manure produced non-significantly different values. However, the 7t/ha poultry manure had the best residual effects on maize yield and soil fertility. The 3t/ha poultry manure plus 200kg/ha NPK fertilizer is recommended as substitute for 7t/ha poultry manure or 300kg/ha NPK fertilizer.

Key words:Poultry manure; NPK fertilizer; residual soil fertility; nutrient uptake; maize yield

Moor Journal of Agricultural Research Vol.4(2) 2003: 191-197