Effects of Cow Dung on the Growth and Development of Maize Crop

Abstract

Greenhouse and Field experiments were conducted at the Institute for Agricultural Research and Samaru College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The objectives of the experiments were to evaluate the combine effects of cow dung subjected to different management practices and Urea fertilizer on some Maize growth parameters and to observe the residual effects of the cow dung in the second year. The experiment was a factorial experiment, 3 management practices, 4 duration of storage, and 2 nitrogen levels, laid out in a Randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The Greenhouse study revealed that, combining cow dung subjected to different management practices (pit covered May and surface heaped uncovered June) and Urea at 45 kg N ha -1 gave significantly (P < 0.05) higher dry matter yield and surface heaped covered April treatment gave taller plants, which were statistically at par with NPK treatment (120 kg N ha -1 ). The results of the field studies for the two years were consistent on the dry matter yield and plant height. The field studies showed that, the direct effect, N amended surface heaped covered April gave the highest Maize Stover yield for the two seasons, while on the residual effect, N amended, the surface heaped uncovered March treatments gave the highest stove yields. On plant height, the direct effect N amended surface heaped uncovered May treatments gave significantly taller plants than all other treatments in the two seasons. While on the residual effect, the surface heaped covered April treatment was the one that gave taller plants in the two seasons.

Time of application of fresh cow dung on productivity ofscented rice and its residual effect on linseed

“…Application of fresh cow dung in four splits @ 2.5 t/ha each at 7, 15, 30 and 45 DAP (T 6 ) in scented rice had significant residual influence and produced the highest seed and stover yields of succeeding linseed. Similar results were also reported by Tanimu et al (2013). The increase in grain yield with T 6 treatment over T 1 (control), T 2 , T 3 , T 4 and T 5 was 34.4, 6.2, 6.1, 5.1 and 4.3 per cent.…”

Effect of cow dung as organic manure on the growth, leaf biomass yield of Stevia rebaudiana and post harvest soil fertility

“…CD application at all levels increased leaf dry yield at harvest by 101 to 268% in acid soil and 98 to 278% in non-calcareous soil, respectively over control. Tanimu et al (2007) confirmed similar result in case of Maize. El-Dewiny et al (2006) showed that dry weight of radish and spinach plants increased with application of sewage sludge.…”

A Comparative Study on the Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Agronomic Performance of Faba Bean (&lt;i&gt;Vicia faba&lt;/i&gt; L.) and Pea (&lt;i&gt;Pisum sativum&lt;/i&gt; L.)

“…These results are almost similarly agreed with the findings of [19] in Albizia and [20] in Triticum. Improved seed germination might be attributed to the role of some important microorganism which influence in enhancing the easy availability of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the soil and making available to the germinating seed with consequent enhancement in the cell metabolic activity resulting in higher germination [21][22]8]. According to [23] the nutrients present in organic fertilizers can be released only when its decomposition takes a long period of time.…”

“…Its main objective of to create a balance between inter connected system of the soil organism, plants, animals and humans [7]. The choices of suitable forms of fertilizer of the crop growth of the plant are governed by local, natural condition and variation in soil and climate with regard to their suitability for crops cultivation [8]. Numerous test and experience have shown that farm yard manure with its long time effective nutrients on Agronomic Performance of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) and Pea (Pisum sativum L.)…”

“…According to [8], fertilizers are resource of plant nutrient that can be added to supplement soil natural fertility. Crop plants have great demand for nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium as a whole main significance in maintenance of normal physiological function of the cell.…”