Effects of NPK Single Fertilizers on Relative Growth Performances of Two Cycles of Maize (Zea mays L.) Grown in a Degraded Soil of Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

A B S T R A C TThe balanced use of inorganic amendments to enhance effective crop production for developing world economies like Nigeria is paramount to achieve her Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for its teeming population. Thus this study was carried out to assess the relative growth performances of a major food crop under different regimes of fertilizer application. Field and Green House experiments were carried out to assess the relative growth performances of two Cycles of Zea mays L. (LNTP-W C 0 and C 3 ) used as test crops for the amendment of degraded soil using N, P and K single fertilizers. The single fertilizers (treatments) used were Urea, Single Super Phosphate (SSP) and Muriate of Potash and the study was carried out in the Department of Botany, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The experiment consisted of 4 treatments applied at 2 levels (C 0 and C 3 ) and replicated three times in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) to give a total of 48 experimental units. The application of Nitrogen (N) was done at four levels (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg haG 1 ), while the Phosphorous (P 2 O 5 ) and Potassium (K) were applied at a constant rate of about 60 kg haG 1 for all the pots except for the experimental control pots. The design was adopted for both Green House and Field experiments. The results from the study showed that C 3 performed better than C 0 in Field and Green House experiments with respect to their relative performances of the growth parameters; plant height (cm), stem diameter (mm), number of leaves, leaf length (cm) and leaf width (cm) measured within the Pre-flowering period of 8 weeks. The treatment combination of 90 kg haG 1 N, 60 kg haG 1 P and 60 kg haG 1 K gave the best performance in this study. The study also revealed that the growth rate of the maize plant was directly proportional to the level of N applied with constant levels of P and K providing the basis for developing optimum NPK fertilizer level for the amendment of degraded soil for higher productivity using maize with tolerance to low soil Nitrogen. The study showed that more derelict soils can be put to good use with the appropriate level of NPK Fertilizer application optimum for the right crop, thus aiding the use of hitherto abandoned degraded land and putting more land under cultivation.

Evaluation of different sweet potato varieties for growth, quality and yield traits under chemical fertilizer and organic amendments in sandy ferralitic soils

“…The direct effect of potassium on yield is less marked than nitrogen, which constitutes a part of the organic matter synthesized during growth (Abdel-Motagally and Attia, 2009). In agreement with the results obtained by Christianson and Vlek (1991) and Chukwuka et al (2015), inorganic-N, P and K in combination is a key element in the production of vegetables as it enhances yield by promoting cell division, expansion in leaves and root development.…”

Effects of NPK Fertiliser (15-15-15) on the Growth Performance of Three Arable Crops Grown on Degraded Kaolin Mined Soil in Abia State, Southeast Nigeria

“…Ohiya is located near the Abia T junction on the Umuahia side, along the Enugu Port Harcourt Expressway. It has an area of 140 km 2 and a population of 138,570 [6]. The area lies at latitudes 50º26ʹ and 50 longitudes 70º22ʹ and 70º33ʹE.…”

“…Studies have shown that application of balanced fertilizer accelerates plant growth resulting in taller and greener plants [13,14]. According to Fashina, et al [15], the availability of sufficient growth nutrients from inorganic fertilizers leads to improved cell activities, enhanced cell multiplication, enlargement, luxuriant growth, and eventually high yields.…”

“…Nowadays the most common organic soil amendments are compost and animal manure, peat moss, wood chips, and sewage sludge [1], use of plants (phytoremediation), microorganisms (bioremediation) and use of chemical fertilizer. Compost decayed to a relatively stable state is made from plant materials mixed with manure and some soil [2]. Fertilizers are simply planted nutrients, be it synthetic or organic applied to agricultural fields to supplement required elements found naturally in the soil for plant growth and productivity [3].…”

The impact of different nutritional treatments on maize hybrids morphological traits based on stability statistical methods

“…Typically, the long-term research results indicated that the environment is full of chance. The environment is random from one year to the next, so preplant nitrogen fertilizer usage can be delayed (Chukwuka, 2015;Jaliya, 2008;Iqbal et al, 2013). This research aims to evaluate and research the NPK fertilizer level effect about six treatments on two hybrids: FAO340 and FAO 410, using AMMI analysis and GGE biplot in two years in Hungary.…”