scholarly journals Effects of Split Application of Urea Fertilizer on Soil Chemical Properties, Maize Performance and Profitability in Southwest Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluwaseyi I. Ogunboye ◽  
Aruna O. Adekiya ◽  
Babatunde S. Ewulo ◽  
Adeniyi Olayanju

Background: Since N fertilizer applied to maize (Zea mays L.) is prone to loss by leaching, it is important to derive an application time during the phenology of maize when the fertilizer is most efficiently and effectively used by the crop with minimal losses. Objective: Hence, experiments were carried out in 2014 at two locations in Osogbo southwest Nigeria to determine the effects of split application of N fertilizer on soil chemical properties, maize performance, and profitability. Methods: The treatments were: (i) control, (ii) 120 kg N ha-1 Applied at Planting (AP), (iii) two split applications (SA) of 120 kg N ha-1 {90 kg N ha-1 applied AP + 30kg N ha-1 at thirty Days After Planting (DAP) [90 + 30]}, and (iv) three SA of 120 kg N ha-1 {60 kg N ha-1 applied AP + 30 kg N ha-1 thirty DAP + 30 kg N ha-1 at tasselling[60+30+30]}. The four treatments were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates. Results: Results indicate that at both sites, SA three times (60+30+30) has the most improved soil chemical properties, growth and yield of maize relative to other methods. The yield parameters increased in the order: control < 120 kg N ha-1 applied once < 90+30 < 60+30+30. Using the mean of both sites, 60+30+30 increased yield of maize by 15.3%, 37.1% and 138.2%, respectively compared with 90+30, 120 kg N ha-1 applied once and the control. Optimum returns were recorded by 60+30+30 with net return of ₦ 227,600 and a benefit cost ratio of 3.67:1 while the application of 120 kg N ha-1 applied once has a return of ₦ 157,200 with a benefit ratio of 2.9. These results show that farmers would benefit by making more profit by adopting the method of SA of N fertilizer three times (60+30+30). Conclusion: Therefore, for improved soil chemical properties, growth, yield and profitability of maize, N fertilizer application should be structured in accordance with this pattern of uptake to avoid losses by leaching and therefore ensure that N level in the soil is high at the critical stage of N demand.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
F. Mintah ◽  
Y. Z. Mohammed ◽  
S. Lamptey ◽  
B. D. K. Ahiabor

Inoculating groundnut and cowpea with highly effective and competitive rhizobial strain improves nodulation. A field experiment was carried out at the experimental field of the Faculty of Agriculture, University for Development Studies, Nyankpala, to evaluate the growth and yield responses of cowpea and groundnut to five rhizobial inoculant strains in the Guinea Savanna zone. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with eight (8) treatments replicated four (4) times. The treatments included five rhizobial inoculant strains (NC 92, KNUST 1002, KNUST 1003, KNUST 1006, and BR 3267), two N fertilizer levels (20 kg·N/ha and 40 kg·N/ha), and a control. The results showed that rhizobial inoculation and N fertilizer application increased nodulation, biomass yield, pod number, pod weight, hundred seed weight, nodule dry weight, and pod yield of groundnut compared with the control. Rhizobial inoculation averagely increased the nodulation and yield by 63 and 67%, respectively, compared with the control. Mineral N fertilizer (20 kg N/ha) on average increased the nodulation and yield by 24 and 25%, respectively, compared with the control plots. It can be recommended from this study that, in the absence of highly competitive rhizobial strains such as KNUST 1006 and NC 92 as biofertilizers for increasing the nodulation and yield of cowpea and groundnut, 20 kg·N/ha can be used for the purpose. Further research is recommended using these rhizobial strains in combination with lower rates of N fertilizers (<20 kg·ha−1).


2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. 1391-1394
Author(s):  
F. O. Odeleye ◽  
O. M. O. Odeleye ◽  
J. K. Vessey ◽  
Z. Dong ◽  
H. N. Ebuzome

A field trial was conducted at the experimental farm of the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, to determine the growth and yield response of cucumber (cv. Poinsett) to timing of fertilizer application. Fertilizer (20:10:10), at the rate of 150 kg N ha-1, was applied at: planting, 3 weeks after planting (WAP) and 6 WAP. Similarly, split applications were given at planting + 3 WAP, at planting + 6 WAP and at 3 WAP + 6 WAP. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with seven treatments (six fertilizer application treatments plus a non fertilizer control) and four replications. Means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at the 5% level of significance. In general, plants that were fertilized performed better than control plants in terms of vegetative growth and yield. A split application at 3 WAP + 6 WAP performed the best in terms of vegetative growth and fruit yield. Fertilizer applied once-over at 6 WAP was the least beneficial; application of fertilizer once-over at planting, or a split application at planting + 3 WAP, resulted in a high level of vegetative growth but lower fruit yield compared with the split application at 3 WAP + 6 WAP. Key words: Cucumber, N-P-K., time of application, vegetative growth, fruit yield


2021 ◽  
Vol 117 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Ehiokhilen Kevin EIFEDIYI ◽  
Grace Adejoke ILORI ◽  
Henry Emeka AHAMEFULE ◽  
Abduquadir Yusuf IMAM

<p>Soils of the southern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria are inherently infertile due to shortened fallow period and the continuous use of inorganic fertilizer which depletes the soil of micronutrients such as zinc over time. A field trial was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Ilorin, Nigeria during the 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons to evaluate the effect of zinc and NPK fertilizer on the growth, yield and zinc concentration of seeds of sesame. The experiment was laid out as a factorial fitted into a randomized complete block design (RCBD), replicated thrice. The treatment consisted of four levels of ZnSO<sub>4</sub> (0, 5, 10 and 15 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>) and four levels of NPK 15:15:15 (0, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>). Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using new Duncan multiple range test at 5 % level of probability. Results obtained showed significant effects of Zn and NPK rates on plant height, number of leaves, yield per plot and yield per hectare. The application of 15 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> Zn and 300 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> (15:15:15) NPK resulted in high yield and high zinc content of seeds.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-19
Author(s):  
Tiara Kartika Sari ◽  
Muhammad Rif’an ◽  
Sakhidin Sakhidin

Rice is the primary food commodity in Indonesia. To increase the rice production, urea fertilizer has been excessively used, specifically on marginal land. However, it has no desired effect on the plant’s Nitrogen uptake due to volatilization. Previous studies suggest the use of zeolite to be mixed with urea to reduce the volatilization rate. This study aimed to determine the effect of six NP-SR (Nitrogen Phosphorus Slow Release) fertilizer compositions (without NP-SR; 20.69-0; 19.7-5; 17.27-10; 15.9-15; and 18.94-20) on soil chemical properties, nitrogen efficiency, and paddy rice yield on Ultisols at three waterlogging levels (0.5 cm, 3 cm, and 5 cm). The study was an experiment arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) consisting of two factors, which were waterlogging levels and NP-SR fertilizer compositions. The results showed that waterlogging treatments significantly affected soil chemical properties in the initial vegetative and harvest phases. It can be concluded that the treatment of flooding (up to 3 cm) and fertilizer (NP-SR of 15.90-15) application could significantly reduce the volatilization rate, increase the efficiency of N fertilizer, and increase rice yield.


Author(s):  
S. Nantha Kumar ◽  
Mhaddalkar Tejas Vijay Vidhya ◽  
K. Rathika

Background: An experiment on “Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth, Yield Attributes and Economics of Spiny Brinjal (Solanum melongina L.) var. VRM (Br)-1” were conducted at Adhiparasakthi Agricultural College farm, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu. Methods: Eleven treatments of integrated nutrient management viz., T1-RDF of N:P:K (100:50:30 kg/ha.), T2– FYM (25 t/ ha.), T3- Humic acid (20 kg/ha.), T4- RDF of N:P:K (100:50:30 kg/ha.) +FYM @25 t/ ha, T5- Humic acid (20 kg/ha.) + RDF of N:P:K (100:50:30 kg/ha.), T6- Azospirillum (2 kg/ha.), T7- Phosphobacteria (2 kg/ha.), T8- Azospirillum (2 kg/ha.) + Phosphobacteria (2 kg/ha.), T9 – 75% RDF of N (75 kg/ha.) + 100% RDF of P&K (50:30 kg/ha.) + Azospirillum (2 kg/ha.), T10 - 75% RDF of P (37.5 kg/ha.) + 100% RDF of N&K (100:30 kg/ha.) + Phosphobacteria (2 kg/ha.) and T11 - 75% RDF of N & P (75:37.5 kg/ha.) + 100% RDF of K (30 kg/ha.) + Azospirillum (2 kg/ha.) + Phosphobacteria (kg/ha.) replicated thrice in Randomised block design. Results: The various treatments of integrated nutrient managementin spiny brinjalclearly showed that growth and yield attributes were high in T11.The economic assessment of different treatments revealed that maximum net profit Rs.2,16,570/ha.with benefit cost ratio (2.60) was also recorded in treatment T11 75% RDF of N & P (75:37.5 kg/ha.) + 100% RDF of K (30 kg/ha.) + Azospirillum(2 kg/ha.) + Phosphobacteria (kg/ha.).


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Aruna Olasekan Adekiya ◽  
Oluwaseyi Iyabo Ogunboye ◽  
Babatunde Sunday Ewulo ◽  
Adeniyi Olayanju

During integrated nutrient management involving poultry manure (PM) and urea fertilizer (UF) for maize (Zea mays L.), it is necessary to investigate the best time to apply UF that will optimize soil chemical properties, growth, and yield of maize. Hence, studies were carried out to investigate the effect of different rates of PM and single and split applications (SA) of UF on soil chemical properties, growth, and yield of maize. The treatment involved three levels of PM (0.0, 4.0, and 8.0 t·ha−1) and four sets of periods of UF: (i) 0 kg N ha-1 (control), (ii) 120 kg N ha-1 applied at planting (AP), (iii) two SA of 120 kg N ha−1 (90 kg N ha-1 applied AP + 30 kg N ha-1 at thirty days after planting (DAP)), and (iv) three SA of 120 kg N ha-1 (60 kg N ha-1 applied AP + 30 kg N ha-1 thirty DAP + 30 kg N ha-1 at tasseling). The 12 treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. PM and UF alone and integrating UF with PM improved soil chemical properties, growth, and yield of maize compared with the control. SA of UF three times (60 + 30 + 30) had the most improved soil chemical properties, growth, and yield of maize. Results also showed that maize yielded higher under UF integrated with PM compared with their sole forms. Application of 60 + 30+30 with 8 t ha−1PM (60 + 30+30 + 8 t ha−1PM) or with 4 t ha−1PM treatments showed the highest growth and yield of maize, but due to the bulkiness, handling challenges, and cost of PM, 60 + 30+30 + 4 t ha−1PM is recommended. Therefore, for better growth and yield of maize, after the initial application of PM, UF application should be split-applied in accordance with plant growth and the pattern of uptake to avoid losses by leaching and therefore ensured that N level in the soil is high at the critical stage of N demand.


2011 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 477-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. O. ADEKIYA ◽  
S. O. OJENIYI ◽  
T. M. AGBEDE

SUMMARYExperimental data on tillage requirement of cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) are needed to identify the most suitable tillage methods for managing the fragile Alfisols of the humid tropics to ensure sustained productivity. Hence, five tillage methods were compared as to their effects on soil physical and chemical properties, and growth and yield of cocoyam on an Alfisol at Owo in the forest-savanna transition zone of southwest Nigeria. The experiment consisted of five tillage methods: manual clearing (MC), manual ridging (MR), manual mounding (MM), ploughing + harrowing (P + H) and ploughing + harrowing twice (P + 2 H) were used for three years at two sites in a randomized complete block design with three replications. In the first two years (2007 and 2008), P + H produced the least soil bulk density and highest growth and yield, whereas in the third year (2009), MC produced the lowest soil bulk density and best performance of cocoyam. Manual clearing produced the best values of soil chemical properties in 2008 and 2009. Averaged over the three years, P + H, MR and MM had lower soil bulk density hence better growth and yield compared with P + 2 H and MC. Over the three years MC, MM, MR and P + H increased cocoyam cormel yield by 10, 21, 23 and 32%, respectively, over P + 2 H.The corresponding increases in corm yield were 7, 15, 13 and 21%, respectively. The multiple regressions revealed that bulk density and moisture content significantly influenced the yield of cocoyam. Soil chemical properties were not significant. Bulk density rather than soil chemical properties dictated the performance of cocoyam in an Alfisol of southwest Nigeria. Soil quality was degraded by P + 2H. For small farms, either MR or MM is recommended while P + H is recommended for large-scale farming of cocoyam.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 356-368
Author(s):  
Patrick Ofori ◽  
Gideon Asamoah ◽  
Ben Amoah ◽  
Kwaku Osei Adu Agyeman ◽  
Edward Yeboah

Abstract Low soil fertility is a major problem limiting peri-urban vegetable production in the Kumasi metropolis. This study was conducted to assess the effects of poultry litter biochar (PLB) and NPK fertilizer application on soil chemical properties and the yield of cabbage. Twelve treatments (control, 100% NPK, 50% NPK, 2.5 t ha−1 PLB, 2.5 t ha−1 PLB + 50% NPK, 2.5 t ha−1 PLB + 100% NPK, 5 t ha−1 PLB, 5 t ha−1 PLB + 50% NPK, 5 t ha−1 PLB + 100% NPK, 7.5 t ha−1 PLB, 7.5 t ha−1 PLB + 50% NPK, and 7.5 t ha−1 PLB + 100% NPK) were evaluated under field conditions in a randomized block design with three replications. Combined application of PLB and NPK fertilizer improved the soil chemical properties, growth, and yield of cabbage relative to the control and sole PLB treatments. Application of 5 t ha−1 PLB + 50% NPK increased the soil pH, soil organic carbon, available phosphorus, and cation exchange capacity by 26.6, 41.4, 296, and 78.7%, respectively, relative to the control. Moreover, 5 t ha−1 PLB + 50% NPK increased the cabbage yield by 73% compared with the control. This study concludes that PLB and NPK fertilizers can be applied to improve the soil chemical properties and yield of cabbage.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. 400-413
Author(s):  
Babajide Peter ◽  
OpasinaIfeoluwa ◽  
Ajibola Adijat ◽  
Noah ◽  
Oyedele Temitope ◽  
...  

It is not unreasonable to state that, even before the introduction of organic agriculture, African local farmers have numerous of undocumented environment-friendly, nature-inclined indigenous techniques for boosting soil fertility and enhancing crop yield. However, despite the versatility of indigenous knowledge, setback is always experienced from western science, which tags such knowledge as being non-scientific and not worthy of scholarly engagements. A field experiment was carried out in the year 2013, at the Teaching and Research Farms, LadokeAkintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, to assess the soil fertility and yield promoting potentials of some indigenous plant species’ botanicals used as pre-planting treatments on different maize varieties. It was a 3 by 5 factorial experiment. The treatments introduced were: Three (3) maize varieties (V1 = ACR-DMR-SR-Y, V2 = Local EM-W and V3 = Suwan Solo Yellow and five (5) other treatments (comprising pre-sowing botanical treatments of: Kigeliaafricana only, Glyphea brevis only, combination of Kigeliaafricana and Glyphea brevis only, NPK fertilizer application (as a reference) and the control (treated with ordinary water only). The trial was laid out in Split Plot in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), replicated three times. Data were collected on growth and yield parameters, and the data collected were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Means were compared using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). All the botanical treatments significantly influenced germination, growth, yield and nutrient uptakes of maize, compared to the control. Either of the botanicals tested (with ordinary basal manure application of the pre-existing plant residues on the field), competed effectively with NPK fertilized plants. Hence, since maize responded better to sole treatments of either Kigeliaafricana or Glyphea brevis extracts, irrespective of varieties than the combined treatment of the two botanicals, any of the maize varieties is therefore recommended as being suitably compatible with either of the sole botanical treatments, in the study area. Thus, this research is reasonable, particularly in the aspects of fertilizer economy, environment-friendliness, organic farming and more profitable crop production in the tropics, where soils are continuously cropped and marginal.


2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Etty Safriyani ◽  
Mery Hasmeda ◽  
Munandar Munandar ◽  
Firdauas Sulaiman ◽  
Holidi Holidi

The application of integrated agriculture is an effort to reduce dependence up on agrochemicals and increase the absorption of nutrients, especially nitrogen, to increase plant growth and production. <em>Azolla </em>is an algae that can provide nitrogen for rice, while ducks can increase the availability of N, P, and K, as well as the efficiency of nitrogen use. This research aimed to evaluate the role of ducks and <em>Azolla </em>in increasing the growth and production of rice plants. This research was conducted from October 2018 to February 2019 using an experimental method with a nonfactorial randomized block design. The combinations of nitrogen fertilizers, <em>Azolla</em>, and ducks (K) were as follows: K1 = 115 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>, without ducks, without <em>Azolla</em>; K2 = 86 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>, without ducks, 1,000 kg <em>Azolla </em>ha<sup>−1</sup>; K3 = 86 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>, 3,000 ducks ha<sup>−1</sup>, 1,000 kg <em>Azolla </em>ha<sup>−1</sup>; K4 = 58 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>, 3,000 ducks ha<sup>−1</sup>, 1,000 kg <em>Azolla </em>ha<sup>−1</sup>; K5 = 29 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>, 3,000 ducks ha<sup>−1</sup>, 1,000 kg <em>Azolla </em>ha<sup>−1</sup>; and K6 = without N fertilizer, 3,000 ducks ha<sup>−1</sup>, 1,000 kg <em>Azolla </em>ha<sup>−1</sup>. The results showed that the application of 58 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>, 3,000 ducks ha<sup>−1</sup>, and 1,000 kg <em>Azolla </em>ha<sup>−1</sup> (K4) was able to decrease the N fertilizer application by 50% and increase the rice growth and yield by 12.17% and 20.32%, respectively. Therefore, the integrated application of rice–duck–<em>Azolla </em>would support sustainable agriculture.


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