Response of maize (Zea mays L.) to combined application of organic and inorganic (soil and foliar applied) fertilizers

A field trial was carried out in the 2013 cropping season at the Teaching and Research Farm of Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria (08° 42” 48.5N and 004° 26 17.9” E ) to assess the response of early maturing maize variety (TZEE-Y) when using organic poultry manure (pm) alone or in combination with inorganic (NPK) and foliar fertilizer (ff) (boost xtra). The treatments were: pm 5.0 t ha-1 + ff, pm 2.5 t ha-1 + NPK 30 kg N + ff, NPK 60 kg N + ff, pm 5.0 t ha-1 + NPK 60 kg N, pm 10.0 t ha-1 + 60 kg N, NPK 120 kg N/ha, pm 10.0 t ha-1 and control. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Applications of poultry manure at 10.0t ha-1 produced the highest plant height (119.57 cm2), leaf area (362.10 cm2) and cob length (17.47 cm2). However, significantly, was at par with integrated application of poultry manure at 2.5 t ha-1 mixed with NPK 30 kgN ha-1 and foliar fertilizers. As compared to other treatments, significantly shorter days (38) to 50% flowering was obtained where 2.5 t ha-1 poultry manure was combined with NPK 30 kgN/ha and foliar fertilizer. The highest grain yield (3.206 t ha-1) was obtained when pm was applied alone at 10.0 t ha-1. This was also similar to the combined application of pm at 2.5t ha-1 mixed with NPK 30 kgN ha-1 and foliar fertilizer. The results of the study indicated that combined application of pm, NPK and ff enhanced the growth and yield of maize. This integrated application will be a good soil management practice for tropical soils. Combination of pm at 2.5 t ha-1 with NPK 30 kgN ha-1 and foliar fertilizer (boost xtra) is therefore recommended for early maturing maize production in the study area.Key words: Poultry manure, foliar fertilizer, mixing, NPK fertilizer, application rate