Effect of liquid poultry manure and injection depth on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays) under Tropical Climate

Abstract

Abstract. Liquid poultry manure has long been recognized to be desirable organic fertilizer. It improves soil fertility by adding both major and essential nutrients as well as soil organic matter which improve moisture and nutrient retention. Injection of liquid manure into soil can reduce nutrient loss through volatilization, reduce odour emission, reduce surface runoff pollution, and increase plant uptake of nutrients. This paper reports the effectiveness of different levels of injected liquid poultry manure (LPM) on the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays). The study was carried out at the Science and Technology Post-Basic (STEP-B) Research Farm of The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria during the rainy season of the year 2013. The experiment consisted of three treatments: control, 28 t/ha and 56 t/ha LPM application. Experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Maize ear diameter, ear length, number of kernel row per cob, number of kernel per row/cob, weight of 1000 kernels, and grain yield were significantly affected by application of LPM. Maximum values for all these parameters were recorded with the application rate of 56 t ha-1 LPM. The highest rate of liquid poultry manure application rate of 56 t/ha improved maize yield by 64.8% over the control while the lowest rate of LPM application (28 t/ha) improved maize yield by 62.5% over the control.