The study assessed the effects of composted corn wastes, poultry droppings and
inorganic fertilizer on the number of nodules, nitrogen fixation and grain yields
of soybean (Glycine max L.) under field conditions for 2 seasons. The experiments were conducted in the research sub-station of the Institute of Agricultural
Research and Training, (IAR&T), Ilora, Oyo State, South Western Nigeria:
(Derived Savanna Agro-ecology). Six experimental treatments namely; composted corn wastes boiled with table salt, composted corn wastes boiled with water
alone, composted un-boiled corn wastes, composted poultry droppings, NPK 20-
10-10 fertilizer and control were applied to a soil with low fertility status. Soybean (Glycine max L.) seeds were planted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated 6 times. The plantings were carried out twice at two
consecutive plantings. The number of nodules, amount of nitrogen fixed as well
as grain yield were evaluated. The field trial results showed a higher number of
nodules, nitrogen fixation and grain yield response when the un-boiled composted corn wastes (F3) and composted poultry droppings only (F4) were applied to
the field compared to the other treatments. The number of nodules, nitrogen fixation and yield were significantly higher at the end of the second plantings compared to the first reflecting a residual effect of the composts. The study concluded
that the application of composted corn wastes and poultry droppings especially
when the seeds were inoculated with Rhizobium and mycorrhiza improved the
number of nodules, N2 fixation and grain yield of soybean (Glycine max L.) even
when no boiling treatment was applied to the corn wastes. It is therefore recommended that maize cobs be converted to composts for improved soil productivity.
Effect of liming using a partial mixing technique on reductions in the seed cadmium levels for soybeans (Glycine max(L.) Merr.) under field conditions