INFLUENCE OF ORGANIC MANURE SOURCES AND UREA DEEP PLACEMENT ON THE PRODUCTION OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at Bauchi state College of Agriculture, Bauchi during the rainy seasons of 2021 and 2022 to determine the influence of organic manure sources and urea deep placement on the production of maize in Bauchi State, Nigeria. The treatments consisted of four different organic manure (0 t/ha, 5 t/ha Poultry manure, 5 t/ha Cow dung, and 5 t/ha Rice husk) and three urea levels (0, 60, and 120 kg/ha), these were factorially arranged to give 12 treatments combination and laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were collected on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem girth, cob length, cob girth, 100 grain weight and grain yield. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The results obtained showed that, urea deep placement and organic manure had a positive effect on the growth and yield of maize. The result further revealed a significant (P≤0.05) difference among the treatments used. The result showed that, deep placement of 120 kg N/ha proved to be significantly (P≤0.05) better than the other rates in all the parameters observed. Organic manure on the other hand, application of 5 t/ha poultry performed significantly (P≤0.05) better than the other organic sources used throughout the study period. Results of the interaction revealed that, combine application of urea deep placement at 60 kg/ha with 5 t/ha poultry manure produced statistically (P≤0.05) higher growth and yield characters of maize. Urea deep placement application in combination with organic manure gave significantly higher yield than separate application and control. Based on the results of this findings, urea deep placement application at the rate of 60 kg/ha in combination with 5 t/ha poultry manure can be used in maize production to achieve higher productivity in the study area.