Abstract:
The study evaluated the combined effects of chicken manure (CM) and inorganic (NK) fertilizer on yield and yield attributes of three hybrid maize varieties. Field experiments were carried out during the 2010 and 2011 planting seasons on soils derived from coastal plain sands in Akpabuyo, Nigeria. Five fertilizer treatments (0, Nitrogen (Urea 46%) +Muriate of Potash (60%), 5t chicken manure+urea and muriate of potash designated (5 tonnes CM+NK), 10 tonnes CM+NK and 20 tonnes CM alone and three maize varieties Suwan-1-SR, Obatanpa, NDD20 and Calabar White ) were studied. The sustainability index (SI) was also determined. Application of chicken manure significantly (P<0.05) increased plant growth parameters, with a peak at 8weeks after sowing (WAS). The Calabar White variety treated with 10 tonnes CM+NK had the tallest plants (166.10 cm), highest number of leaves (13.70) and largest leaf area (595.4 cm2) at 8WAS while ND4420 had the shortest plants. Averaged across fertilizer treatment, Suwan-1-SR had the highest yield (2904.46 kg ha-1) with 10 tonnes CM+NK treatment while ND4420 had the lowest (923.86 kg ha-1) with 0 CM. Agronomic efficiency was highest with NK treatment (316 kg ha-1) followed by (195.42 kg ha-1) under 10 tonnes CM+NK while 20 tonnes CM had the lowest (8.6 kg ha-1). The Partial factor productivity (Pfp) followed the same trend with the highest value (658 kg) obtained from NK and the lowest (8.6 kg) from 20 tonnes CM. However, sustainability index (SI) followed a descending trend in the order 10 tonnes CM+NK, 20 tonnes CM, 5 tonnes CM+NK and NK. Thus, the 10 tonnes CM+NK with 72.5% SI was more productive and environmentally safer than NK with the highest agronomic efficiency and partial factor productivity. |
