Untitled

Abstract

There is need to convert mesquite (Prosopis spp.) into a useful product instead of constituting a menace to agricultural lands. Thus, it was suggested using mesquite as compost. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of composted mesquite on some soil properties, vegetative growth parameters and nutrient contents of maize. The compost was made from mesquite tress through aerobic methods and was applied at five rates: 0 (T1), 10 (T2), 20 (T3), 30 (T4) and 40 (T5) t ha-1 equivalents. A pot experiment was carried out in a complete randomized design, with four replications. Results shows that T5 is positively affected both of plant and soil compared with other treatments. T5 is significantly (p < 0.05) increased plant height (107±0.147 cm), number of leaves (9.0±0.250), stem diameter (1.3±0.014 cm), dry matter (48±0.026 g plant-1), total N (8.27±0.006 g kg-1), P (5.35±0.009 g kg-1) and K (38.5±0.008 g kg-1), compared with control treatment were (81±0.326 cm), (6.0±0.250), (0.6±0.006 cm), (30±0.712 g plant-1), (3.25±0.009 g kg-1) (1.85±0.007 g kg-1) and (25.5±0.013 g kg-1), respectively. While, soil analysed for pH (8.21±0.009), EC (1.32±0.010 dS m-1), N (2.15±0.006 g kg-1), P (4.90±0.006 mg kg-1), K (19.53±0.004 mg kg-1) and SOM (6.72±0.004 g kg-1), where in control treatments were (8.51±0.008), EC (0.77±0.008 dS m-1), (0.84±0.004 g kg-1), (1.64±0.007 mg kg-1), (11.01±0.022 mg kg-1) and (3.4±0.006 g kg-1). This study showed that composted mesquite application offers the potential to enhance soil quality, improve maize growth and nutrients content. Moreover, T5 (40 ton ha-1) showed a significant superiority compared with other treatments.