Abstract
Phosphorus and Sulphur fertilizers are important for increasing the productivity of maize in most parts of Nigeria. A screen-house experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S) on maize dry-matter yield (MDY) in soils of five locations (Obantoko I, II, Alabata I, II, and III) in Abeokuta, Ogun State of Nigeria. Three levels of sulphur (0, 10 and 20 kg S ha–1) and phosphorus (0, 30 and 45 kg P ha–1) were evaluated in a 3 × 3 × 5 factorial experiment laid in Completely Randomised Design with three replications. Pre-planting analyses were performed to determine soil pH, particle size, organic matter, K, Na, P and S. Eight weeks after planting, maize parts above the soil level were harvested, oven-dried and dry-matter yield were computed and recorded. Application of S fertilizer appears not to be critical to maize production in the study areas since singly added S did not produce significant increase in biomass yield. In contrast, applied P significantly increased MDY in all the soils except Obantoko II, which already contained high amount of P sufficient for maize yield. Both synergism (Alabata II and III) and antagonistic (Alabata I) interactions were observed between P and S on MDY without any interactive effect in Obantoko I soil. Application rate of 30-45 kg P ha–1 with or without 10 or 20 kg S ha–1 resulted in significant effects on the MDY in the study areas. Field studies on effects of P and S on maize grain yield are recommended.Keywords: available P and S, maize productivity, Nigeria soils, biomass, fertilizers
Highlights
Maize is the third most important cereal crops in the world next to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rice (Oryza sativum L.) (Muhammad et al, 2015)
Available S of the surface (0-15 cm) soils were low, ranging from 1.25 mg kg-1 in Alabata II to 3.70 mg kg-1 in Obantoko I while the K content was higher in Obantoko II (0.37 cmol(+) kg-1) than in other soils
All the soils were slightly acid to neutral which is good for most arable crops (Ayodele and Omotosho, 2008).Based on the criteria for soil test interpretation and soil fertility classes established for Maize in South-Western Nigeria (Agboola and Ayodele, 1985; FMANR, 1990), the organic matter content was low in Alabata II, medium in Obantoko I, Alabata I and III but high in Obantoko II soil
Summary
Maize is the third most important cereal crops in the world next to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rice (Oryza sativum L.) (Muhammad et al, 2015). In Nigeria, maize is a staple food and one of the most abundant crops (Ayinde et al, 2015) It is produced in all parts of the country, from the north to the south (Abdulrahaman and Kolawole, 2006). It is prepared and consumed in a multitude of ways which vary from region to region or from one ethnic group to the other (Abdulrahaman and Kolawole, 2006) It is used in livestock feeds (Olaniyan, 2015; Fabunmi and Agbonlahor, 2012), and serves as raw material for many agro-based industries (Iken and Amusa, 2004). Importance of maize in this region is tied to its uses both as staple food and in formulating livestock feed (Fabunmi and Agbonlahor, 2012)
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