Impact of Some Animal Manures on Growth and Yield of Maize (zea mays l.)

Abstract

A field experiment to investigate the effects of application chicken, sheep and horse manure on the average yield and growth parameters of maize was carried out at the Research Farm of Woreillu Woreda, Ethiopia during 2017 planting season. Treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The variables measured were plant height, number of leaves, leave area index (LAI), stem girth and grain yield obtained. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The means were separated using LSD at five percent level of significance.Results obtained indicated that growth and yield of Maize was lowest in control treatments, which showed that the organic manures used in the study especially chicken manure positively influenced the performance and yield of Maize. The results also revealed that plots treated with chicken manure gave the highest number of leaves per plant, thicker stem, highest LAI and grain yield of 5.7 t/ha. Comparatively, lesser grain yield of 4.2 t/ha was obtained with the application of horse manure. Sheep manure produced 3.9 t/ha of maize grain while the least yield of 2.8t/ha of maize were recorded in the control treatments. Based on the findings of the experiments it could be deduced that chicken manure seems to promote higher growth yield of maize. Thus, it should be recommended for growers of maize crop in the study area.

Keywords: ,Organic ,manure, ,Growth ,parameter, ,Yield, ,maize.

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/11-23-04

Publication date: December 31^st 2020