Response of Maize (Zea maysL.) to Different Rates of Palm Bunch Ash Application in the Semi-deciduous Forest Agro-ecological Zone of Ghana

S Adjei-Nsiah

doi:10.1155/2012/870948

Abstract

The effects of palm bunch ash (PBA) and mineral fertilizer application on grain yield and nutrient uptake in maize and soil chemical properties were studied in both the major and minor rainy seasons in the semi-deciduous forest agro-ecological zone of Ghana. In both the major and minor rainy seasons, the response of maize to four levels (0, 2, 4, and 6 tons per hectare) of palm bunch ash and 200 kg per hectare of NPK (15-15-15) application was evaluated using randomised complete block design. Results of the study showed that application of palm bunch ash significantly (P<0.05) increased soil pH, soil phosphorus, and exchangeable cations. Maize grain yield varied significantly (P<0.05) among the different treatments in both the major and minor rainy seasons. The highest maize grain yield of 4530 and 6120 kg ha-1was obtained at PBA application rate of 2 tonsha-1for the major and minor rainy seasons, respectively.

Highlights

Empty fruit bunch (EFB) is one of the major waste products generated from processing fresh fruit bunch (FFB) in palm fruit processing mills
The small-scale mills which process about 60% of the total FFB produced in the country [3] burn the EFB as a means of disposing them, resulting in heaps of ash dotted around small-scale mills in the major oil palm producing areas in Ghana
The results of this study suggest that pH of acid soils can be corrected and leached nutrients replaced by recycling of palm bunch ash

Summary

Introduction

Empty fruit bunch (EFB) is one of the major waste products generated from processing fresh fruit bunch (FFB) in palm fruit processing mills. The small-scale mills which process about 60% of the total FFB produced in the country [3] burn the EFB as a means of disposing them, resulting in heaps of ash dotted around small-scale mills in the major oil palm producing areas in Ghana. Preliminary analysis of bunch ash of different ages from processing mills in Kade (unpublished results) indicates that besides K, palm bunch ash has high pH and contains varying amounts of other nutrients such as calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg). These properties of palm bunch ash make it suitable as a liming material and fertilizer supplement. In southern Nigeria, [7] and [8] found palm bunch ash as an effective fertilizer and liming material for increasing soil fertility, pH, and nutrient uptake by crops such as maize and cassava

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