EFFECT OF MINERAL FERTILIZER INTEGRATION WITH ORGANIC MANURE ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF MAIZE (Zea mays l.)

Influence of Manure and Nitrogenous Fertilizer Applications on Corn Yield and Quality Characteristics

“…This is consistent with the findings of Ibeawuchi et al (2007), who reported that higher rates of manure led to increase the water-soluble and exchangeable potassium and magnesium which enhances grain yield and dry matter of maize. The present results agree with those obtained by Enujeke (2013) and Ewais et al (2015). On the other hand, manure did not significantly affect ear diameter and number of rows per ear in both seasons.…”

“…The increase in plant height can be attributed to the fact that nitrogen promotes plant growth, increases the number and length of the internodes which results in a progressive increase in plant and ear height. Ewais et al (2015) reported that the favorable effect of mixed compost with chemical fertilizers may be due to the effect of compost on increasing the efficiency of chemical fertilizer. The application of the manure also, enhances microbial activity that releases different organic acids which helps in solubilization of the native soil nutrients and makes them available for the uptake by plants.…”

“…Protein digestibility increased with increasing levels of manure in both seasons [at level 10 m 3 manure fed -1 (M 2 ) values ranged between 52.45-54.08 and 52.73-57.98% for 2014 and 2015 seasons and at 20 m 3 manure fed -1 (M 3 ) values ranged between 55.13-59.70 and 55.55-59.64% for 2014 and 2015 seasons, respectively]. This may be due to that organic acids in manure enhanced solubilization of soil nutrients and improve its availability and made them available for the uptake by plants (Ewais et al, 2015).…”

“…At low zinc intakes and with an absence of inhibitors, zinc absorption can be greater than 50%. The manures enhance microbial activity that releases different organic acids which helps in solubilization of the native soil nutrients and makes them available for the uptake by plants (Ewais et al, 2015). Appearance, color, texture, taste, flavor and overall acceptability data of corn muffins at different manure levels and nitrogen application times are listed in Table (12).…”

Agro-Economic Implications of Combined Application of Organic and Mineral Fertilizers on Maize

“…The integration of organic and inorganic fertilizers might have resulted into synergy and improved synchronization between nutrient release and uptake by plants leading to higher yields [25]. According to Vanlauwe et al [26] and Afe et al [24], the production of grain yield might be due to better growth, development and dry matter accumulation with proper supply of nutrients to plant and increase in the availability of other plant nutrients with the respective source of nitrogen application or extra crop produce can often be observed due to positive direct or indirect interactions between fertilizer and organic inputs as suggested by Magda et al [27]. The inorganic fertilizer provides most of the nutrients and the organic fertilizer increases soil physicochemical properties [17].…”