The Effect of Palm Kernel Cake, Chicken Manure, Gliricidiasepiumas Compared to Inorganic Manures (Npk15:15:15 &urea) Fertilizationon Growth, Yield Component and Yield of Irrigatedmaize (Zea Mays L.)
Author: Festus B. Massaquoi, Sheka Bangura, Fatmata H. Kabbia & Kelvin S. Conteh
Abstract: Most Sierra Leone soils are poor infertility and cannot effectively support maize production without improving their fertility status. However, the rising cost of inorganic fertilizers and their unavailability at certain times are major factors contributing to the low yields of maize in Sierra Leone. A field experiment was conducted at the faculty of Agriculture,, Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology in an Inland Valley Swamp to investigate the effect of Palm Kernel Cake, Chicken manure, and Gliricidiasepium fertilization at equal rates of 10t/ha on the growth and yield of maize. The variety of maize used in the experiment was the most widely adopted improved DMR-ESR yellow maize. The maize was planted with treatments as thus: No fertilization (control), recommended rate of NPK-15:15:15 & Urea, 10t/ha PKC, Chicken manure, and Gliricidiasepium. The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The plot size was 12m2 and the planting distance was 75cm by 50cm. Traits evaluated were subjected to analysis of variance using Genstat. The results of the study indicate that the fertilization of maize with PKC and Chicken manure significantly increased the yield of maize in the lowland soils of Njala. NO significant difference was observed between these organic minerals and the recommended rates of NPK. The application of organic minerals(PKC, Chicken manure, and Gliricidiasepium) at 10t/ha significantly out yielded the control without fertilization. The high yields obtained by the application of PKC, Chicken manure, and NPK fertilizer could be attributed to increased Nitrogen availability which promoted vegetative growth and development hence higher grain yield.