Response of Hybrid Maize, (Zea mays L.) to Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers in Soils of South-West and North-Central Nigeria

Studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield performance of maize (Zea mays L.) at the experimental site of Plant science Department, Faculty of science, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti (7°40′ N, 5°15′ E) and the Teaching and Research Farm of Landmark University, Omu-Aran Kwara state (8°25′ N, 4°40′ E) in 2012 and 2014 cropping seasons respectively. The treatments were NPK 20-10-10 (200 kgha-1) at two weeks after planting (2WAP), Foliar NPK (2.5 lha-1) at two weeks after planting (2WAP), NPK at 2WAP+foliar NPK at 6WAP, Poultry manure (8 tonha-1) at planting + foliar NPK at 6WAP, Poultry manure at planting, and the control. Poultry manure at planting + foliar NPK at 6WAP produced the highest maize performance in terms of height, stem girth, leaf area, kernel yield and weight per 100 kernels. This performance was not significantly different from those obtained in the NPK (200 kgha-1) at 2WAP + foliar at 6WAP. The findings from this work further corroborate the usefulness of poultry manure in organic crop production. The improved performance of maize observed in the poultry manure or NPK that received additional foliar NPK application in this work shows the relevance of supplementary foliar fertilizer in addition to poultry manure or NPK on maize performance. The comparable yield obtained in poultry manure with NPK fertilizer also suggested that maize can be organically fertilized to produce high yield in these locations without Chemical fertilizer which could be harmful to our soils and human.