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Micronutrient content of maize grown under continuous cropping and long term fertilizer use in an ultisol in Nigeria
Abstract
The micronutrient content of maize grown under continuous cropping and long term fertilizer use in an Ultisol in Nigeria was studied in 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons. The four sites studied were; 12 years Organic Fertilizer Amendment (OFT) site at 200 Kg.ha-1 yr-1 , 10 years inorganic fertilizer amendment (IFT) site at 200 Kg.ha-1 year-1, 10yrs Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer Amendment (CFT) site at 300 Kg.ha-1 year-1 and a 15years fallow land of Zero fertilizer amendment (CONT) at O Kg.ha-1 year-1. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design with three replications. The raw data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and mean differences were separated using F-LSD at p=0.05. Plant parts used in the experiment were the roots and above ground portion of the maize plant. Measurements were measured at 4 and 8 Weeks after Planting (WAP). The micronutrient content in the plant portions was compared with standards to establish toxicity levels. The results showed the content of micronutrient in maize was affected by long term fertilizer amendment, above ground portion and growth stages. At both 4 and 8 WAP, the OFT showed significantly higher content of Cu, Zn,and Fe than maize from other treated sites. At 4 WAP Cu, Zn, Fe content in the root and above ground portion of maize were 1.65, 2.30, 0.46 mg.plant-1 and 2.47, 34.17, 34.17 and 4.82 mg.plant -1 respectively. But, manganese was found to be exceptionally higher in maize plants grown at CFT site compared to other site while the maize from the control site recorded the least values in all the plant parts studied. All the micronutrients studied were within the normal limit in the plant parts sampled.
Keywords: Micronutrients, Fertilizers, Application, Cropping and Soil
