Abstract
A greenhouse soil culture experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of organo-mineral fertilizers on soil chemical properties, growth, dry matter yield and tissue nutrient contents of maize (Zea mays L.). The organo-mineral fertilizers consisted of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) pod compost fortified with inorganic N and P. Five (5) kilogramme portions of an ultisol obtained from an uncultivated plot were amended with cocoa pod compost at the rates of 0, 2.5 and 5.0 t/ha, respectively, with and without N (0 and 25 kg/ha urea) and P (0 and 26 kg/ha single superphosphate - SSP). Maize was grown for two consecutive 8-week periods and the following parameters were determined: plant heights, dry matter yield, soil reaction (pH), organic carbon, soil and tissue contents of N, P, Mg, Ca, K and Na. The results showed that plant heights and dry matter yields were significantly (p<0.05) enhanced in the following order: 5 t/ha cocoa pod + N and P (CC2F) > 5.0 t/ha cocoa pod compost (CC2) > 2.5 t/ha cocoa pod + N and P (CC1F). The soil pH, OM, P, Mg, K as well as tissue contents of P, K, Ca and Mg were significantly (p<0.05) increased thus: CC2 > CC2F > CC1> CC1F. Other parameters such as exchangeable Ca and Na, and tissue N content were not significantly (p>0.5) affected by the treatments. It was, therefore, concluded that the application of cocoa pod compost at the rate of 5.0 t/ha with and without N and P improved some soil chemical properties, growth and tissue nutrient contents of maize
Keywords:
ultisol
cocoa pod compost
n and p
dry matter yield.
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