Effect of different fertilizers on yield and grain composition of maize in the tropical rainforest zone

Abstract

This study assessed the quality of selected organic-based fertilizers (OBF) (neem-fortified (NM) and cow dung compost (CD)) and compared them with an inorganic fertilizer (IF) NPK 20-10-10 to determine the growth response and grain composition of maize. The field study was conducted in the early and late cropping seasons of 2015 at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The experiment, laid out in a randomized complete block design, consisted of six treatments: 100% NM and 100% CD, each at the rate of 3 and 6 t ha-1, IF at 0.3 t ha-1 (inorganic fertilizer recommendation for local maize production), and zero fertilizer application as control. The highest grain yield of maize (1.87 ± 0.13 t ha-1) was obtained with IF and the lowest one (1.01 ± 0.10 t ha-1) with zero fertilizer application. Maize grain yield from the repeated experiment without treatments applications reduced by about 50 and 75% for OBFs and IF and control plots, respectively. Low crude fiber, 2.62-4.13% obtained using OBFs was a good indicator of maize quality. Organic-based fertilizers demonstrated superior effects on the quality of maize grains when compared to the inorganic fertilizer.