Research Article

Evaluation of Agronomic Performance of Maize (zea Mays L.) Under Different Rates of Npk Fertilizer Application in an Ultisol of Lafia, Nassarawa State

Usman, J.1*, Idoga S.2, Abagyeh S. O. I2, Ugese, F.D1, Ogbu, O.J.1
1 Department of Soil Science, University of Agriculture, Makurdi Nigeria
2 Department of Soil Science, University of Agriculture Makurdi, Makurdi, Benue State
* Corresponding author: Jakusman05@gmail.com
Published: Apr, 2019
DOI: 10.67042/njss.2019.krxfxd9i
Pages: 136-141
Views: 514
Downloads: 667

Abstract

The study was carried out in Lafia, Nassarawa State with the view to determine the optimum fertilizer rate for maize production among the Ultisols. The hybrid maize, Oba super II was used as a test crop while commercial NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer at the rates of 0: 0: 0, 60: 30: 30, 90: 45: 45, 120: 60: 60 and 150: 75: 75 kg/ha representing 0.48, 0.72, 0.96 and 1.20 kg/ha were applied to the hybrid maize, “Oba super II”. The soils were well drained with sandy loam texture while structural aggregates were poor to weak. The soils were low in cation exchange capacity, basic cation (Ca, Mg, K and Na), total nitrogen, available phosphorus and organic carbon. They were low in micronutrient and therefore, low in their inherent fertility status. Uptake and utilization of applied fertilizer in both years witness better responses compared with the non-fertilized plants. NPK 60:30:30 kg/ha yielded highest (65.60 cm and 13.14) plant height and number of leaves while leaf areas and leaf area index were highest (5.52 m2 and 0.46 m2) at NPK 120:60:60 kg/ha. The stem diameter was highest (94.50 mm) with the use of NPK 150:75:75 kg/ha. In terms of yield parameters, ear weight and ear length were highest (90.00 g and 10.64 cm) at NPK 150:75:75 kg/ha while ear diameter and grain yield were highest (123.94 cm and 1.06 kg) with the use of NPK 90:45:45 kg/ha Grain yield advantages were successfully maximized with the use of NPK 90:45:45 Kg/ha.

Keywords

structural aggregates were poor to weak. the soils were low in cation exchange

References

  1. Agboola, A.A. and O.J. Ayodele, 1985. Prospects and problems of using soil testing for adoption of fertilizer use in ekiti-akoko agricultural development project area. Proceedings of the Workshop on Appropriate Technologies for Farmers in Semi-Arid West Africa, April 2-5, 1985, Purdue University, West Lafayette, pp: 123-136
  2. Akintoye, H. A. Lucas, E. O. and Kling, J. G. (1997). Effects of density of planting and time of N application on maize varieties in different agro-ecological zones of West Africa, Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal., 28, 116 -117
  3. Ano, A. A. (1991). Maize quality and utilization project, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (Ibadan), 19p
  4. Ayolagha, G.A. and Opene, G.A. (2012). Characterization and Classification of Selected Soils of Ndoni in the Meander Belt of Niger Delta. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol. 22 (2) 54p
  5. Boateng, S. A. Zickermann, J. and Kornahrens, M. (2006). Poultry manure effect on growth and yield of maize, West African J. Applied Ecology 9: 1-18
  6. Brady, N.C, and Weil, R.R. (2014). The Nature and Properties of Soils 14th ed. Prentice-Hall. New Jersey, USA. 960p
  7. Burke, K., Dessauvagie, T.F.J. and Whiteman, A.J. (1970). Geological History of the Benue Valley and Adjacent Area. In African Geology (T.F.J. Dessauvagie and A.J. Whiteman, Eds). Univ. of Ibadan Press, Nigeria
  8. Dauda, S. N. Ajayi, F. A. and Dor, E. N. (2008). Growth and yield of watermelon (Citrullus lunatus) as affected by poultry manure application, J. Agric. & Social Sci 4 (3), 121-124
  9. Day, P.R. (1965). Particle fraction and particle size analysis. In: C.A. Black (ed), Methods of Soil Analysis, Agron. 9. ASA, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, Pp547-577
  10. Elewanya, N. P. Ugun, M. I. Enobong, E. E. and Okocha, P. I. (2005). Correlation and path coefficient analysis of grain yield related characters in maize (Zea mays L) under Umudike conditions of South Eastern Nigeria, Agro-Science Journal of Tropical Agriculture, Food Environment and Extension 1, 24-28
  11. Eneji, A. E. Agboola, A. A. and Ubi, B. E. (1997). Effect of farmyard manure and NPK fertilizer on growth and yield of maize + sweet potato intercrop in South-western Nigeria. Revista di Agricultura Subtropical e Tropicale 91(1): 63-78.
  12. Eshett, E.T. (1987). The Basaltic Soil of South Eastern Nigeria: Properties, Classification and Constraints to Productivity. Journal of Soil Science. 38:565-490
  13. Fanan, U., and Felix, K. (2014). Analysis of the Spatial Distribution of Health Facilities in Benue State, Nigeria, Public Health Research 2014, 4(5): 210-218
  14. FMANR, 1990. Literature review on soil fertility investigations in Nigeria (in Five Volumes). Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lagos, pp. 324-5
  15. Hesse, R.P. (1971). A text book of soil chemical analysis. John Murray Publishers Ltd., London. Pp.184 [https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Map-of-Nasarawa-State_fig1_324538039](https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Map-of-Nasarawa-State_fig1_324538039)
  16. IITA, (2015). Selected Method of Soil and Plant Analysis. Manual Series No.13 International Institute for Tropical Agricultural Publications, Ibadan, Nigeria
  17. Jones, C. A. 1997, A survey of the variability in tissue nitrogen and phosphorus concentration in maize and grain sorghum, Field Crops Research 6,133-147
  18. Kang, B.T. and Balasubramanian, V. (1990). Long-term fertilizer trials in Alfisols in West Africa. In Transactions of XIV International soil science study congress, Kyoto, Japan (Vol. 4) Kyoto, Japan: ISSS.Kang, B.T. (1993). Changes inn Soil Chemical Properties and Crop Performance with Continuous Cropping on an Entisol in the Humid Tropics. In Mulongoy, K. and R. Merckx (eds) Soil Organic Matter and Sustainability of Tropical Agriculture: John Willey and Sons (UK), KU Leuven (Belgium) and ITA (Nigeria) pp 297-305
  19. Madu A.J.C. and Ozibo B.N. (2017). Geology of parts of Ghoko and Makurdi Local Government Areas, Benue State, Nigeria. International Journal Geology and mining 2(2):064-070
  20. Obi, U. (1989). Effect of time of planting on natural disease and pest infestation of late season maize in the Nsukka plains of Southern Nigeria, Maize Research Monograph 3, University of Nigeria Nsukka, 28p
  21. Okoruwa, E. A. (1998). Effects of NPK fertilizer and Organic manure on the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrid, Crop Sci. 2, 119-124
  22. Oloaye, G. and Adegbesen, N. O. (1991). Utilization and processing of maize. IITA Research Guide No. 35. Training Program, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) 29p
  23. SAS, (1997). SAS Statistical Methods. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA
  24. Ufot, U. O. (2012). Soils and the Environment for Colleges and Universities. Shadow Pub. Ltd, Owerri, Nigeria. Pp1635
How to Cite

J., U., S., I., I, A. S. O., F.D, U., & O.J., O. (2019). Evaluation of Agronomic Performance of Maize (zea Mays L.) Under Different Rates of Npk Fertilizer Application in an Ultisol of Lafia, Nassarawa State. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, 29(1), 136-141. https://doi.org/10.67042/njss.2019.krxfxd9i

U. J., I. S., A. S. O. I, U. F.D, and O. O.J., "Evaluation of Agronomic Performance of Maize (zea Mays L.) Under Different Rates of Npk Fertilizer Application in an Ultisol of Lafia, Nassarawa State," Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 136-141, April 2019. doi: 10.67042/njss.2019.krxfxd9i

Share this article:
Facebook X / Twitter LinkedIn
Download PDF Back to Articles