Enhancing Maize (zea Mays L.) Growth and Nutrient Uptake Via Application of Water Hyacinth (eichornia Crassipes [mart.] Solms) Compost and Inorganic Nutrients
1 Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
2 Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
* Corresponding author: aterect@soilsjournalnigeria.com
2 Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
* Corresponding author: aterect@soilsjournalnigeria.com
Abstract
A soil culture experiment was conducted in the screenhouse to assess the growth response of maize to water hyacinth compost application rates and their residual effects. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solms) compost, namely, 2.5 t ha-1(W1) and 5.0 t ha-1 (W2) with and without fortification with fertilizer, F [N (25 kg ha-1 as urea) and P (26 kg ha-1 as SSP)] were mixed with portions of 5 kg soil and used to grow maize. At eight weeks after planting in each of two consecutive cropping, plant heights, biomass dry weight and their nutrient contents were determined. Soil was also sampled from each pot for chemical analyses. Compared with the control, available P and exchangeable K were increased (p
Keywords
compared with the control
available p and exchangeable k were increased