RESPONSE OF MAIZE (Zea mays) TO A LOAMY SAND AMMENDED WITH RICE HUSK AT OBUDU, SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The scarcity or non-availability of inorganic fertilizer in the third world is a great impediment to achieving increased production of maize today. An alternative to this is to increase soil fertility with readily available and affordable materials. This study was conducted using a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with the following rates of rice husk to boost soil fertility for improved maize production 0 tha^-1 (T₁), 16.7tha^-1, (T₂), 33.3 tha^-1 (T₃), 50.0 tha^-1 (T₄), 66.7tha^-1 (T₅). From result obtained for grain yield for the two years, T₄ gave optimum yield. In 1999 treatments T₁, T₂ and T₃ were not significantly different from each other while in 2000, treatments T₂ and T₃ were significantly different (P<0.05) different from T₁. Plant heights obtained at three weeks after planting in 1999 showed that T₃, T₄ and T₅ were significantly different (p <0.05) followed by treatment T₂ and T₁. The results were the same for treatments T₃, T₄ and T₅ at five weeks after planting while treatments T₁ and T₂ had the same effect. At 7 weeks after planting treatments T₄ and T₅ had the same effect, but were the best followed by treatment T₃, T₂ and T₁ in that order. However, in 2000, treatments T₃, T₄ and T₅ were the best followed by treatment T₁ and T₂. For cob length, the results were not too distinct while treatment effect on cob girth was not significant.


KEY WORDS: Rice husk, organic fertilizer, soil fertility, tropical soil


Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol.2(2) 2003: 110-112