Response of Maize Varieties to Some Soil Fertility Management Options in Abakaliki Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Soybean residual manure (SRM) and inorganic fertilizer were evaluated in 2008 and 2009 for growth and yield responses of three elite maize varieties in Abakaliki (latitude 06⁰ 19´ 407´´ N and longitude 08⁰ 07´ 831´´ E) in a 4 x 3 factorial arranged in a randomized complete block design in four replications. Soil fertility managements significantly (p<0.05) improved yield parameters better than growth, but under SRM + NPK (15:15:15) at 200 Kgha^-1, Ikom white (local) had the largest growth and the largest leaf area (9 930.0 cm²). Fertilizer replacement value of SRM had shelling weight (9.80 gplant^-1) more than a half of 18.72g [SRM + NPK (15:15:15)] and 16.79g [NPK (15:15:15)] at 200 Kgha^-1 only and more than the control (9.50g). Suwan (composite) had heavier shelling weight (14.59g plant^-1) than 13.91g (Oba super II, a hybrid) and 12.09g (local). The hybrid had the highest harvest index (60%) but Suwan had the highest 1000 seed weight (209.38g) per plant. SRM with the local for small-scale and SRM + NPK (15:15:15) with Suwan for large-scale production are recommended.

Keywords: Elite maize variety, Soil fertility management, Fertilizer replacement value, Soybean residual manure.