Growth and yield response of some maize cultivars to organomineral fertilizer application in simulated degraged soil under greenhouse conditions.

Abstract

A3x5 factorial experiment in a completely randomized design was conducted under screen house condition to evaluate the responses of maize cultivar to organomineral fertilizer. The factors were fertilizer application (0,4.0 and 6.0 tha-1) and maize cultivar (ACR30T21 COMP3c3; Oba Super1; AK950MRESRW(YELLOW) and ACR91SUWANI –SRCI). All treatments were replicated three times. The crop parameters monitored included height, leaf length, number of leaves and biomass yield. Data analysis was through ANOVA and means were separated using the Duncans\'s Multiple Range tests (DMRT) at 5% probability level. Plant height, leaf length and biomass yields of all maize cultivars responded to organomineral fertilizer applications. Generally, the order of response was 0.0 <4.0<6.0 t ha—1 applications. Unlike other growth parameters, the number of leaves was not significantly increased by organo mineral fertilizer application in cv ACR91SUWANI-SCRI. Similarly, stem and cob yield were not significantly increased by organo mineral fertilizer application in all the maize cultivar expect c.v Oba super 1 and AK9528- DMRSR (YELLOW) which gave significantly higher values than the no fertilizer control. It was therefore concluded that organomineral fertilizer responses in maize may be cultivars-dependent and specific growth and yield variables of the cultivar might respond in different ways.

Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol. 17 2007: pp. 87-93