Comparisons of nutrient solutions from organic and chemical fertilizer sources on herbage yield and quality of hydroponically produced maize fodder

Abstract

We investigated the use of four nutrient solutions (organic, organo-mineral, inorganic, and a commercial hydroponics solution that served as a control) on the yield and quality of hydroponically produced maize fodder. The organic, organo-mineral, and inorganic nutrient solutions were formulated from poultry manure, Aleshinloye organo-mineral fertilizer, and NPK 20:10:10, respectively. The nutrient solutions were used to irrigate “Swan-1” maize seeds for 16 days after which herbage yield, water use efficiency, chemical composition, and in vitro variables were determined. Formulated nutrient solutions had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on recorded fodder yield values (0.96 − 1.05 kg/tray). Water use efficiency values ranged from 0.23 to 0.26 kg DM/m3 with no significant (p > 0.05) treatment effect. The organo-mineral nutrient solution decreased crude protein content but increased ash content in the plants. The other treatments had statistically similar (p > 0.05) crude protein and ash values with the control. Recorded crude protein and ash values were 8.88%−13.69% and 5.43%−8.25%, respectively. Plants irrigated with the organo-mineral nutrient solution had consistently higher (p < 0.05) mineral concentration values (3.68, 2.13, 63.60, 13.70, and 5.29 g/kg for Ca, P, K, Mg, and Na); although, P concentration was similar with the control. In vitro gas volumes and dry matter digestibility were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by the treatments. In conclusion, the formulated organic and organo-mineral nutrient solutions produced plants with similar yield and quality as the inorganic and standard nutrient solutions.