Effect of Crop Residues on Soil, Plant Nutrient and Yield of Maize (Zea mays)

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igboora Research Farm on the effect of crop residues management (Parkia biglobosa (PKR), maize stover (MR) and NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer (NPK) on soil nutrient content, uptake and yield of maize. The experiments were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). There were six (6) treatments replicated three (3) times and these include; control (0.0t/ha), PKR (15t/ha), MR (15t/ha), NPK (120kg/ha), NPK (60kg/ha) +PKR (7.5t/ha) and NPK (60kg/ha) +MR (7.5t/ha). The effects of PKR, MR and their combinations on soil OM, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, CEC and leaf N, P, K, Ca and Mg were verified. All the treatments increased soil and leaf content of N, P, K, Mg and Ca relative to control. NPK (60kg/ha) + PKR (7.5t/ha) significantly (P<0.05) improved the grain yield value (6.63kg/ha) than others and with 283.24% better than the control. The order of response of most parameters considered were NPK (60kg/ha) +PKR (7.5t/ha) >NPK (120kg/ha) >NPK (60kg/ha) +MR (7.5t/ha)>PKR (15t/ha)>MR (15t/ha) and the control. Maize yield obtained by using NPK (120kg/ha) gave 5.6kg/ha which performed better than NPK (60kg/ha) +MR (7.5t/ha) with 5.43kg/ha. While, PKR (15t/ha) had grain yield of 2.5kg/ha significantly increased (P<0.05) than the use of MR (15t/ha) with 2.3kg/ha and the control, the least (1.73kg/ha). The combination of NPK fertilizer and leguminous crop waste is recommended for their optimum and sustainable productivity.