Analysis of the Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer on Growth Performance and Yield of Maize

摘要

A pot randomized design experiment was conducted to analyze the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizer on growth performance and yield of maize. Fifteen (15) kg air dried topsoil was collected from the initially laid out 3m x 2m randomized block design of three replications and six treatments into 20kg sized horticultural pots leaving about 5cm to the brim. Good quality maize (Sudan1 TZEEY) seeds with 75 days lifespan was used and irrigated. The treatments used for the growth performance and yield of the maize include; Poultry dropping/manure (A), SSP (B), NKP 20:10:10 (C), combination of poultry droppings and SSP (D), combination of NPK 20:10:10 and SSP (F), and the control (no addition of SSP, NPK or Poultry droppings) (E). At 8^th weeks after planting, the leaf area were 621.65 cm², 531.18 cm², 531.22 cm², 492.42 cm², 422.13 cm², and 436.73 cm² respectively for the treatments which contained NPK + SSP, NPK, SSP + Manure, Manure, SSP and the control. The highest plant height at 10^th weeks after planting was 201.07 cm under the treatment of SSP + Manure followed by NPK + SSP (191.10 cm), NPK (189.73 cm), control (188.63 cm), manure (177.40 cm) and the SSP being the least with 169.20 cm; whereas the leave area decreased compare to that of 8^th week after planting. The shelling percentage and harvest index were fairly constant throughout the 10 weeks experimental periods. Combination of organic and mineral fertilizers resulted in high maize grain yields and improved soil chemical properties.