Soil Properties, Growth and Yield of Maize as Affected by Organic Manure (Teak Fresh Leave) in Makurdi, North Central, Nigeria
- January 7, 2020
- Posted by: RSIS
- Categories: IJRSI, Soil Science and Land Resources Management
International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue XII, December 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705
Maku, A. A.1, Onwu, C. A.2, and Ali, A.3
1Department of Science, School of General Studies and Pre ND, Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
2Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, Federal University Wukari, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria
3Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Abstract:-An experiment entitled “Soil properties, growth and yield of maize as affected by organic manure (teak fresh leave) in Makurdi, North Central, Nigeria” was carried out at Teaching and Research Farm of Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria during the year 2011 and 2012. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with six treatments replicated three times. Organic manure (teak fresh leaves) was subjected to all plots except control.Data were recorded on different parameters such as soil chemical properties, plant height, number of leaves and grain yield. The statistical analysis of the data showed that organic manure significantly affected some chemical properties and all growth and yield studied attributes. The highest plant height, number of leave and grain yield was recorded in plants received 7.5 t ha-1 organic manure. It was concluded that 7.50 t ha-1 of organic manure among the differentrates performed best and hence recommended for the soil sustainability and maize production.
Key words: Organic manure; maize; soil properties; number of leaves; yield
I. INTRODUCTION
Maize (zea mays L.) is grown in virtually every country in the world. It is now grown largely in warm temperate regions (Shaw, 1997) and only three out of thirteen countries are producing maize that is in million tons per year. These are mainly tropical Brazil, Mexico and India.Maize is the world’s highest supplier of calorie with caloric supply of about 19.5%. It provides more calorie than rice (16.5%) and wheat (15.0%). Maize is one of the most important staple foods in the world today; maize, rice and wheat combine to supply more than 50% of global caloric intake (World Atlas, 2017).
