Effect of Combined Use of Organic Crop Growth Enhancer, Inorganic and Organic Fertilizers on the Proximate Quality of Maize (Zea Mays L.)

This study investigated the use of organic crop-growth enhancers by farmers to improve the proximate quality of maize (Zea mays L.) in Ghana. Multi-location field trials at CSIR-CRI Fumesua and AAMUSTED Mampong over the two rainy seasons of 2023 were conducted. The proximate quality was evaluated from two perspectives: the location where the maize was cultivated and the specific crop growth enhancer that was applied. A Randomized Complete Block Design with twelve treatments and each replicated four times was used. The treatments were T1 = Agro charger, T2 = Agro clean, T3 = Agro charger +Agro clean, T4 = NPK, T5= NPK + Agro charger, T6 = NPK + Agro clean, T7= NPK + Agro charger + Agro clean, T8 = Poultry manure (PM), T9 = PM +Agro charger, T10 = PM+ Agro clean, T11 = PM + Agro charger +Agro clean, T12 = control. The results showed that across both locations, the proximate quality (protein, moisture content, carbohydrate, crude fibre content, fat and total ash) of maize was superior at Fumesua compared to Mampong. Furthermore, in relation to the treatments applied, poultry manure and the addition of Agro charger, as well as the combination of poultry manure+ + Agro charger + Agro clean, resulted in the best proximate quality in cultivated maize. The study recommends the use of PM + Agro charger + Agro clean for higher maize growth and yield.

Organic Crop ,Growth Enhancer, Inorganic, Organic Fertilizers

1. Aboutayeb, R., Mohamed, E., Zhor, A., Badr, F., & Yahya, K. (2014). The use of composted poultry manure as an organic amendment: Effects on soil physicochemical properties and Mentha Spicata L. yield. Int. J. of Advanced Res, 2(11), 1109-1119. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Adeleye, Ebenezer & Samuel, Ayeni & Ojeniyi, S.. (2010). Effect of poultry manure on soil physicochemical properties, leaf nutrient contents and yield of yam (Dioscorea rotundata) on Alfisol in Southwestern Nigeria. J. Am. Sci. 6. 956-959. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Agbede, T. M. (2025). Poultry manure improves soil properties and grain mineral composition, maize productivity and economic profitability. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 16501. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Akchaya, K., Parasuraman, P., Pandian, K., Vijayakumar, S., Thirukumaran, K., Mustaffa, M. R. A. F., ... & Choudhary, A. K. (2025). Boosting resource use efficiency, soil fertility, food security, ecosystem services, and climate resilience with legume intercropping: a review. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 9, 1527256. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Allen, J. F. (2002). Photosynthesis of ATP—electrons, proton pumps, rotors, and poise. Cell, 110(3), 273276. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Amanullah, M. M., Somasundaram, E., Vaiyapuri, K., & Sathyamoorthi, K. (2007). Poultry manure to crops–A review. Agricultural reviews, 28(3), 216-222. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Amfo, B., & Ali, E. B. (2021). Beyond adoption: the interaction between organic and inorganic fertilizer application, and vegetable productivity in Ghana. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 36(6), 605621. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Annappa, N. N., Krishna Murthy, R., Saralakumari, J., Thimmegowda, M. N., & Veeranagappa, P. (2025). A comprehensive analysis of the effects of balanced NPK fertilization on maize quality, nutrient uptake and soil sustainability using hierarchical cluster dendrogram techniques. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Avatim, R. W., Migwe-Kagume, C., & Fincham, L. (2021, September). Why Does Ghana Need a Fertilizer Dashboard? Development Gateway: An IREX Venture. Retrieved August 4, 2025, from https://developmentgateway.org/blog/why-does-ghana-need-a-fertilizerdashboard/#:~:text=What%20Does%20the%20Dashboard%20Visualize,to%20subsidy%20price%20by %20product. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Basar, K., Doruk, K., Akli, N., Lida, S., & Mibang, A. (2024). Nanotechnology in agriculture: Promises, risks and challenges. Int. J. Chem. Stud., 12(1), 26-28. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Benjamin, J., Idowu, O., Babalola, O. K., Oziegbe, E. V., Oyedokun, D. O., Akinyemi, A. M., & Adebayo, A. (2024). Cereal production in Africa: the threat of certain pests and weeds in a changing climate—a review. Agriculture & Food Security, 13(1), 18. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Boruah, Sushruta & Pathak, Mahesh & A.R, Ramya & Sahoo, Bimal & Sarmah, Kasturi & Ikram, Mohammad & Sehgal, Mukesh. (2025). Applications of Plant Extracts in Pest Control. 10.54083/978-81986377-3-4_10. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Britm, & Britm. (2025, February 26). Agricultural Biostimulants: A New Era in Farming with ICL | ICL US. ICL US.https://icl-growingsolutions.com/en-us/agriculture/knowledge-hub/agricultural biostimulants -a-new-era-in-farming-with-icl/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Darfour, B., & Rosentrater, K. A. (2016). Maize in Ghana: an overview of cultivation to processing. In 2016 ASABE annual international meeting (p. 1). American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Diacono, M., & Montemurro, F. (2011). Long-term effects of organic amendments on soil fertility. Sustainable agriculture volume 2, 761-786. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Du Jardin, P. (2015). Plant biostimulants: Definition, concept, main categories and regulation. Scientia horticulturae, 196, 3-14. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Fathi, A. (2022). Role of nitrogen (N) in plant growth, photosynthesis pigments, and N use efficiency: A. Agrisost, 28, 1-8. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Gan, S. S. (2014). Leaf senescence is an important target for improving crop production. Adv. Crop Sci. Tech, 2(3), e116. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Gastal, F., & Lemaire, G. (2002). N uptake and distribution in crops: an agronomical and ecophysiological perspective. Journal of Experimental Botany, 53(370), 789-799. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Halpern, M., Bar-Tal, A., Ofek, M., Minz, D., Muller, T., & Yermiyahu, U. (2015). The use of biostimulants for enhancing nutrient uptake. Advances in agronomy, 130, 141-174. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Havlin, J. L. (2020). Soil: Fertility and nutrient management. In Landscape and land capacity (pp. 251265). CRC Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Herbert, K. D. (2017). Assessment of maize (Zea mays) as a feed resource for poultry. Poultry science. IntechOpen, London, UK. https://doi. org/10.5772/65363. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Joshi, H. C., Prakash, O., Nautiyal, M. K., Mahapatra, B. S., & Guru, S. K. (2019). A comparison between the grain quality parameters of rice grown under organic and inorganic production systems. Universal Journal of Plant Science, 7(2), 19-27. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Kara, E., İleri, O., Erkovan, Ş., Sürmen, M., Erkovan, H. İ., & Koç, A. (2022). Crude Fiber, Ether Extract, and Some Mineral Contents of the Corn Silage Grown at Different Weed Densities. Turkish Journal of Range and Forage Science, 3(1), 25-29. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Ma, X., Gao, Y., Ma, X., Wu, B., Yan, B., Li, Y., ... & Guo, L. (2024). Effect of Different Types of Organic Manure on Oil and Fatty Acid Accumulation and Desaturase Gene Expression of Oilseed Flax in the Dry Areas of the Loess Plateau of China. Agronomy, 14(2), 381. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Maathuis, F. J. (2009). Physiological functions of mineral macronutrients. Current opinion in plant biology, 12(3), 250-258. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Marschner, H. (2012). Marschner's mineral nutrition of higher plants. Academic Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Nuss, E. T., & Tanumihardjo, S. A. (2010). Maize: a paramount staple crop in the context of global nutrition. Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety, 9(4), 417-436. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. OAC, A. (1990). Official Methods of Analysis. 15th Edition. Association of Official Chemists, Washington, USA. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Ottonello, I. (2024, August 13). Maize moisture content at Harvest: Best practices for optimal quality AgroLog.AgroLog.https://www.agrolog.io/news/maize-moisture-content-at-harvest-best-practices-foroptimal-quality [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Owusu, K., Emmanuel, A. K., Musah-Surugu, I. J., & Yankson, P. W. K. (2019). The effects of the 2015 El Nino on smallholder maize production in the transitional ecological zone of Ghana. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 11(5), 609-621. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Penuelas, J., Coello, F., & Sardans, J. (2023). A better use of fertilizers is needed for global food security and environmental sustainability. Agriculture & Food Security, 12(1), 1-9. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Rouphael, Y., & Colla, G. (2020). Biostimulants in agriculture. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 40. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Singh, H., Desimone, M. F., Pandya, S., Jasani, S., George, N., Adnan, M., & Alderhami, S. A. (2023). Revisiting the green synthesis of nanoparticles: uncovering influences of plant extracts as reducing agents for enhanced synthesis efficiency and its biomedical applications. International journal of nanomedicine, 4727-4750. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Skillman, J. B., Griffin, K. L., Earll, S., & Kusama, M. (2011). Photosynthetic productivity: can plants do better? Thermodynamics–systems in equilibrium and non-equilibrium, 35-68. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Wongnaa, C. A., Bakang, J. E. A., Asiamah, M., Appiah, P., & Asibey, J. K. (2021). Adoption and compliance with Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-recommended maize production practices in the Ashanti region, Ghana. World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 18(4), 438-456. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Zamir, M. S. I., Yasin, G., Javeed, H. M. R., Ahmad, A. U. H., Tanveer, A., & Yaseen, M. (2012). Effect of different sowing techniques and mulches on the growth and yield behaviour of spring-planted maize (Zea mays L.). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Ziegler, V., Paraginski, R. T., & Ferreira, C. D. (2021). Grain storage systems and effects of moisture, temperature and time on grain quality review. Journal of Stored Products Research, 91, 101770. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

39. Gastal, F., & Lemaire, G. (2002). N uptake and distribution in crops: an agronomical and ecophysiological perspective. Journal of Experimental Botany, 53(370), 789-799. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Breeding for a Greener Future: Selective Breeding and Crossbreeding Approaches to Minimize Methane Emissions in Ruminant Livestock
• Determinants of Adoption of Post-Harvest Losses Prevention Techniques among Banana/Plantain Marketers in Lagos State, Nigeria
• Enhancing Rice Yield Prediction Using UAV-Based Multispectral Imaging and Machine Learning Algorithms
• Seed-Borne Fungi of Groundnuts (Arachis Hypogaea) and Their Management with Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) Extract In Makurdi, Nigeria
• The Influence of Landforms and Slope on Agricultural Cropping Patterns in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District