NUTRIENT DYNAMICS AND MAIZE PERFORMANCE IN FERTILIZER MEDIATED DIOSPYROS CRASSIFLORA (HIERN) AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM

Abstract

Little is known of the growth and yield performance of maize in a Diospyros crassiflora agroforestry system. The study therefore investigated soil nutrient dynamics and maize performance in fertilizer mediated D. crassiflora agroforestry system. The experiment was a 3x3 factorial treatment combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers in a completely randomized design (CRD) layout and replicated three time. The block was 45m×45m plots within nine (9) sub-plots of the size 5m x 4m were established; there were 2.5m spacing between each of three blocks. Maize performance factors measured bi-weekly during the two year duration of the study are divided into growth components and yield components. The physico-chemical properties of the soil were equally evaluated. Principal component analysis (PCA) and T-test analysis were used to analysed data, while normality of data was tested with Shapiro-Wilk. D. crassiflora through nutrient recycling, improved soil nutrient status; there were significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in the initial and final soil physico-chemical property of the agroforestry system i.e. nitrogen from initial 0.07% to final 0.08%; phosphorus from initial 12 c mol kg-1 to final 12.05 c mol-1kg; BS from initial 74.72% to final 74.8%: silt from initial 8.1% to 8.2%. PCA showed that the control treatment (0kg ha-1 +0t ha-1) effect on mean total number of corn cob was significant (0.937)implying that D. crassiflora species can be successfully intercropped with maize while maintaining yield performance comparable to what is obtainable on fertilizer mediated soils.