Responses of an Acid Alfisol and Maize (Zea mays L.) to Liming in Ado – Ekiti, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The low productivity of most Nigerian soils has been ascribed to the problem of acidity of the soils. Therefore, there is a dire need to address this problem of soil acidity, with a view to increasing the productivity of the soils, and hence, achieving sufficiency of food production. To this end, a two – year experiment was carried out in 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Ekiti State University, Ado – Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria, to determine the effects of different liming materials on the fertility status of an acid Alfisol and grain yield of maize (Zea mays L.). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The different liming materials included: Calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN); Calcium carbonate (CC); Wood ash (WA) and unlimed treatment, which served as the control (C). The results obtained indicated existence of significant (P = 0.05) differences among the different liming materials as regards their effects on chemical properties of  acid Alfisol and grain yield of maize. At the end of 2010 cropping, liming significantly (P = 0.05) increased soil organic carbon (SOC) from 0.40 g kg^-1 for C to 0.52, 0.60 and 0.68 g kg^-1 for CAN, CC and WA, respectively. Similarly, at the end of 2011 cropping, liming significantly increased SOC from 0.33 g kg^-1 for C to 0.48, 0.55, and 0.74 g kg^-1 for the respective CAN, CC and WA. At the end of 2010 cropping, liming significantly increased total N from 0.07 g kg^-1 for C to 0.21, 0.14 and 0.29 g kg^-1 for CAN, CC and WA, respectively. Similarly, at the end of 2011 cropping, liming significantly increased total N from 0.04 g kg^-1 for C to 0.17, 0.10 and 0.34 g kg^-1 for the respective CAN, CC and WA. Combining means of maize grain yield data across the two years of experimentation, liming resulted in significant increases in maize grain yield from 0.70 t ha^-1 for C to 1.88, 1.67 and 2.67 t ha^-1 for CAN, CC and WA, respectively. Of all the liming materials, wood ash gave the highest maize grain yield and yield components in both years, and therefore, wood ash is recommended for maize cultivation.

Keywords: Acid, alfisol, liming, maize, southwestern Nigeria.