Abstract
A field experiment was conducted in two consecutive seasons (2009 and 2010) to assess the effect of two microbial fertilizers, chicken manure, urea and their possible combinations on the performance of a maize variety (Hudeiba 45). The bio fertilizers used were Azospirillum brasilense (A), Azotobacter sp (B) and chicken manure (CM) at a rate of 7t/ha). Urea (46% N) was applied at rates of 120kg/ha (N) and 40kg/ha (T). The combinations used were Azospirillum brasilense with urea (A+T), Azotobacter sp with urea (B+T), A+CM and B+CM in addition to control. The field experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replicates. Four seeds were sown in holes with 20 cm between holes in 4×4 m2 plots with 5 ridges 70 cm apart. Sowing was carried out in the last week of October in 2009 and the first week of November in 2010. The fertilizers were applied on one side of the ridge and plants were irrigated at seven days intervals. Data were collected on cob length, cob diameter, number of rows/cob, number of seeds/row, 100-grain weight, grain yield/plant and grain yield/ha. Data were collected for yield components at physiological maturity and for grain yield after harvesting. The moisture, ash, fat, crude fiber, crude protein, tannins and carbohydrates contents of the grains were determined. Results showed that biofertilizers have significantly (p < 0.05) increased crop productivity. CM increased the grain yield (t/h) by 20 and 30% over the control in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Application of chicken manure solely or in combinations with Azosprillum barasilence or Azotobacter sp have also increased grain yield and its components. The combinations of N2 fixer inoculants with manure and/or urea improved grain quality of maize under field conditions. Key words: Azosprillum barasilence, Azotobacter sp, maize, chicken manure, grain yield.
Highlights
Maize (Zea mays L.) or corn is a cereal crop that grown over a wide environmental range .It is considered as a multi-purpose crops that have a lot of uses such as human diet and animal and poultry feed
The objective of this study is to estimate the effects of microbial inoculation, chicken manure and urea fertilization on maize grain yield, components and quality
Significant increments of the studied parameters were obtained mostly due to the application of chicken manure in the two years, compared to the control
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.) or corn is a cereal crop that grown over a wide environmental range .It is considered as a multi-purpose crops that have a lot of uses such as human diet and animal and poultry feed. It can be used as grain, green fodder or silage (Haque, 2003).In developing countries including Sudan maize is a major source of income to many farmers (Tagne et al, 2008). In Sudan few reports on the importance of biofertilizers inoculation in increasing maize production and improving the physical and chemical quality of maize grains are available. The objective of this study is to estimate the effects of microbial inoculation, chicken manure and urea fertilization on maize grain yield, components and quality
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