EFFECT OF PHOSPHATE ROCKS IN COMBINATION WITH ORGANIC AMENDMENTS ON MAIZE (Zea mays L.) IN THE NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA
EFFECT OF PHOSPHATE ROCKS IN COMBINATION WITH ORGANIC AMENDMENTS ON MAIZE (Zea mays L.) IN THE NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA
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Date
1995-09
Authors
JIBRIN, JIBRIN MOHAMMED
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Abstract
Field studies were conducted over a two-year period (1993 to
1994) on an Ultisol at Samaru (ll0llIN, 7°38'E) to evaluate the
effect of phosphate rocks and organic waste on maize growth and
nutrition. In 1993, the treatments consisted of factorial
combinations of three sources of phosphorus (single superphosphate,
Sokoto phosphate rock and Togo phosphate rock), three rates of
phosphorus (0, 30 and 60kg P205/ha) , and three types of organic
amendments (100% cowdung, 50% cowdung + 50% maize cob waste, and
100% maize cob waste) applied at 5t/ha. The treatment combinations
were laid out in a split-plot design and cropped to maize. In 1994
the same plots were re-cropped to maize to test the residual effect
of the treatments applied in 1993.
Maize performance was better with the application of
phosphorus and oryanic amendment irrespective of the source. The
30kg P205/ha rate appears to be the optimum when inorganic
phosphorus was applied with the organic amendments. In both years
agronomic effectiveness of the P sources was in the order single
superphosphate > Togo phosphate rock > Sokoto phosphate rock. The
agronomic effectiveness of the phosphate rocks relative to single
superphosphate was higher in the second year, indicating the high
residual value of phosphate rocks.
Plant concentration of P and Ca were higher at higher P rates
in both years. In 1993, P and Ca contents of the index leaves were
significantly higher with single superphosphate than with the
phosphate rocks which were statistically at par. However, in 1994
the differences in plant content of P and Ca between single
superphosphate and Togo phosphate rock were not significant.
In both years, significantly higher P concentration was
observed in the index leaves with the application of 100% maize cob
waste than with 100% cowdung or 50% cowdung + 50% maize cob waste.
It was concluded that the application of organic waste reduced
the inorganic phosphate fertilizer requirement of the crop.
Description
A Thesis submitted to the Postgraduate School, Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of MSc Degree
in Soil Science.
Department of Soil Science
Faculty of Agriculture
Ahmadu Bello University
Zaria, Nigeria
Keywords
EFFECT,, PHOSPHATE ROCKS,, COMBINATION,, ORGANIC AMENDMENTS,, MAIZE (Zea mays L.),, NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA,