Responses of Cereals to Fertilizers in Northern Nigeria. II. Maize

Abstract

SummaryField trials in Northern Nigeria have shown that the yield of introduced varieties of maize can be economically improved with combinations of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer. Three response areas have been defined. In the south, where most of the maize is grown, the initial response is to nitrogen. Further north, with the exception of one small area in which the response is almost entirely to phosphorus, phosphorus and nitrogen and equal limiting factors. Estimates of the most profitable combinations of nitrogen and phosphorus to use in each area have been obtained from quadratic response surfaces fitted to the yield data of the experiments.

Tillage and poultry manure effects on soil fertility and sorghum yield in southwestern Nigeria

“…This could be attributed to the lower soil organic C, total N and available P and K status at ISUADA compared with RUGIPO. These observations highlighted the importance of availability of N and P in determining sorghum performance (Goldsworthy, 1967;Tabo, 1995).…”

Effect of heating on phosphate sorption and availability in some north‐east Nigerian soils

“…This P may be of agronomic importance, particularly in northern Nigeria, where burning is a major practice and P is one of the most limiting elements to crop growth (Goldsworthy, 1967). Burning is used initially to clear plant debris when opening up land for cultivation and subsequently to dispose of excess crop residues after each growing season.…”

“…Studies conducted by Raison (1979), Sertsu & Sanchez (1978) and Kitur & Frye (1983) have shown that P is one of the elements which is not entirely volatilized by heating, but is returned to the soil in ash. This P may be of agronomic importance, particularly in northern Nigeria, where burning is a major practice and P is one of the most limiting elements to crop growth (Goldsworthy, 1967). Burning is used initially to clear plant debris when opening up land for cultivation and subsequently to dispose of excess crop residues after each growing season.…”

The sources of assimilate for grain development in tall and short sorghum

“…why there is only a small increase in grain yield when fertilizer is applied to Nigerian long-season sorghum, i.e. Farafara (Goldsworthy, 1967). As Thome (1966) has pointed out, applying nitrogen and thereby increasing the leaf area and the capacity of the plant to produce carbohydrate will increase grain yield only when the number of grains is sufficient to accept the additional carbohydrate so formed.…”