Effect of Different Mulch Materials on the Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea Mays) on Coastal Plain Sand in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

The presence of residue mulches in farm has been known to effectively save the soil surface, prevent soil erosion on slopes, help reduce soil moisture loss through evapotranspiration and insulates soil, protect roots from extreme temperature, improve soil biology, aeration, aggregation of soil particles and reduce drainage over-time, improve soil fertility as certain mulch type decompose, inhibit plant diseases, give planting beds a uniform and provide favourable preservation of ecological stability. This experiment was conducted in Teaching and research farm of Akwa ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus to assess the effect of sawdust, calopogonium leaves, and siam weed on microbial, physicochemical properties and performance of White Maize (Zea mays) on a coastal plain sand of Obio Akpa in Southern Nigeria. Results showed that soil mulches with calopogonium mucunoides recorded highest in the following parameters measured; ECEC 10.35%, Cmol and AV.P323mg/kg-1,% base saturation (91.11),100% seed emergence and less leaf area, the highest moisture(35%) was obtain in the soil mulched with saw dust. The highest moisture content in Zea mays ,(5.63%) crude fibre (3.91), lipid (4.71), Total Ash(4.42) and carbohydrates (61.98%) were obtained in the soil mulched calopogonium mucunoides while the highest bacterial count 37x105cful/g-1 and fungi counts 5.1x103cfu/g_1 which gives rise to typical adult characteristics of soil derived from coastal plain sand.