YIELD PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMIC RETURN OF MAIZE AS AFFECTED BY NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ON FERRALSOLS IN COASTAL WESTERN AFRICA

We assessed maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield and associated economic returns of four soil fertility management strategies in a 2-yr study (four growing seasons). The Ikenne maize cultivar was used and the fertilization treatments included: no fertilizer application (control, T1), application of farmyard manure (FYM) at the rate of 6 Mg ha-1 (T2), the agricultural services recommended maize-based fertilization consisting of 200 kg N15P15K15 plus 100 kg urea (46% N) ha-1 (T3) and application of 3 Mg of FYM plus 100 kg N15P15K15 plus 50 kg urea (46% N) ha-1 (T4). On the 2-yr period basis, four-season cumulative grain yields under T4, T3 and T2 were 40, 25 and 22% higher as compared with T1, respectively, those under T4 and T3 were 15 and 3% higher as compared with T2, respectively, while the yield under T4 was 12% higher than that under T3. For the 2-yr period, on a per hectare basis, economic profits under T4, T3 and T2 were 69 and 31% higher and 10% lower as compared with T1, respectively, profits under T4 and T3 were 87 and 46% higher as compared with T2, respectively, while profit under T4 was 28% higher than that under T3. In the current context of degraded soils in coastal western Africa, T4 reflecting a combined application of mineral fertilizer at the rate of N38P15K15 ha-1 plus organic amendment as FYM at the rate of 3 Mg ha-1 should be advised towards sustaining enhanced maize crop productivity and profitability