Effects of some Local Liming Materials and Organic Manure on some Soil Chemical Properties and Growth of Maize

Abstract

Experiments were carried out to find out the influence of some local liming materials, namely: woodash, flue dust and carbide waste and manure on soil pH, exchangeable acidity, exchangeable aluminium and yield of maize at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State Nigeria. The experiments consisted of laboratory and field studies. The results obtained showed that the different liming materials significantly increased soil pH relative to the control. On the average, it required 8.28, 2.3, 3.3 and 2.5 t/ ha of woodash, calcium hydroxide, flue dust and carbide waste, respectively, to raise soil pH from 4.8 to 5.5. Woodash and carbide waste applications reduced exchangeable acidity from 1.02 to 0.93, and 1.48 to 0.97 cmol kg-1 and raised soil pH from 4.51 to 5.18, and from 4.74 to 5.93, respectively. Maize height, girth, dry mater and grain yields as well as nutrient uptake were increased by increasing rates of organic manure. The best performance of maize in terms of growth, nutrient uptake, dry matter and grain yields were obtained with 20 t/ha organic manure application. The results of this study showed that liming materials enhance crop growth by reducing soil acidity while organic manure promote crop growth, nutrient uptake and yield.