Comparative effect of plant residues and NPK fertilizer on nutrient status and yield of maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) in a humid ultisol

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at two locations in 2001 and 2002 on acidic Ultisol of southeast Nigeria to access the effect of amending soil with plant residues on maize performance. The soil amendment treatments compared were natural fallow, wood ash at 6 tha^-1, peanut residue at 12 tha^-1, combination of wood ash and peanut residue, and NPK fertilizer (300 kg ha^-1). Incorporated wood ash, peanut residue, and their combination increased maize leaf N,P,K, Ca and Mg content significantly compared with natural fallow. Compound fertilizer (NPK) increased the leaf N, P and K contents. Wood ash, peanut residue, wood ash plus peanut residue, and NPK fertilizer respectively increased shots dry matter yield by 206, 131, 254 and 277% relative to fallow. The respective increases in grain yields were 177, 65, 246 and 296%.Wood ash gave higher leaf P, K, Ca, Mg and yield compared with peanut residue. Combination of wood ash and peanut residue gave higher dry matter yields, and leaf N, K, Ca and Mg contents compared with wood ash or peanut residue alone. Compound fertilizer gave the highest leaf N, dry matter and grain yield.

Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol. 15 2005: 1-8