Comparative efficacy of NPK fertilizer and composted organic residues on growth, nutrient absorption and dry matter accumulation in maize

Abstract

Scarcity and exorbitant cost of inorganic fertilizers has prompted the use of compost by farmers in Nigeria. However, response of crops to compost differs based on the components of the compost. This study, therefore, evaluated the comparative efficacy of NPK fertiliser and composted organic residues on growth, nutrient absorption and dry matter accumulation in maize. The potentials of five different composts namely; Poultry manure + Mucuna husk (PmMh), Poultry manure + Leaf litter of Gliricidia plant (PmLl), Poultry manure + Rice straw (PmRs), Poultry manure + Leaf litter of Gliricidia plant + Rice straw (PmLlRs) and
Poultry manure + Leaf litter ofGliricidia plant + Mucuna husk (PmLlMh) were studied. The investigation was done in a greenhouse potted experiment using two varieties of maize, TZE COMP4C2 (V1 2) and ACR 9931-DMRSR (V ) as test croptreated with different rates of the compost treatments in a completely randomized design. Significant differences (P< 0.05)were observed in the height and dry matter yield of maize. N, P and K uptake of maize V1and -1 -1 -1 V2 were 20.4, 6.2, 21.9 mg pot and 14.8, 4.1, 17.7 mg pot, respectively with 1.5 t ha PmLlMh and these were significantly (p< 0.05) higher than that of N,P, and K treatments Thus, from the study PmLlMh at 1.5 t ha-1could be effective compost for maize production.