A field experiment was carried out during the wet season of 2026 at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology, Akure. The aim is to examine the response of maize growth and biomass yield to inorganic (NPK) and complimentary organic fertilizer treatments. Initial soil samples were collected randomly from the experimental site and analyzed for some nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, pH) and microbial (bacteria, fungi) population. The experiment was carried out using four treatments, organic, inorganic, organic plus inorganic and control with each treatment replicated three times. Each plot has a dimension of 3 m x 4 m. Agronomic parameters measured were plant height (cm), stem circumference (cm) and biomass yield (g). The results shows that at 10WAS), plot treated with organic plus inorganic fertilizer had the highest stem height (284.67cm); stem circumference (11.32 cm); and leaf dry weight (69.50g). The control treatment which had no fertilizer application recorded the least value of all agronomic parameters measured. The use of the combination of organic and inorganic fertilizer is therefore recommended for smallholder farmers for increased crop yield and soil fertility improvement under intensive continuous cultivation.
M. B. Oyun, J. Fasinmirin, T. E. Mafimisebi et al.· International journal of res...· 0 citations
Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is a staple crop in semi-arid Nigeria, but its productivity is constrained by poor soil fertility. While inorganic NPK fertilizers can boost yields, their long-term use may degrade soil health. Organic alternatives like Gliricidia sepium remain underutilized despite their potential to improve soil quality. A field experiment was conducted at the Dryland Teaching and Research Farm, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, during the 2025 cropping season. The treatments comprised: T₁ (NPK 15 g plant⁻¹), T₂ (Gliricidia-based organic fertilizer 100 g plant⁻¹), T₃ (50 g Gliricidia + 7.5 g NPK plant⁻¹), and T₄ (control). The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Data were collected on growth parameters, yield components, and post-harvest soil physicochemical properties. Analysis of variance was used to test treatment effects at p<0.05. Fertilizer application significantly (p<0.05) influenced millet growth at later stages. Plants treated with Gliricidia (T₂ and T₃) were significantly taller at 9 and 12 weeks after planting and produced more tillers than the NPK-only and control treatments. Although not statistically significant (p<0.05), the sole Gliricidia treatment (T₂) gave the highest grain yield (1.05 t ha⁻¹), representing a 48% increase over the control (0.71 t ha⁻¹). Post-harvest soil analysis showed that Gliricidia-amended plots had significantly higher pH (6.40) compared to the NPK-only plots (6.31). Available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium were significantly higher in the NPK treatment, while total nitrogen remained unaffected across treatments. Gliricidia-based organic fertilizer effectively enhances millet growth and shows strong potential for improving grain yield while buffering soil pH against acidification. It is recommended as a sustainable nutrient management option for smallholder farmers in the Sudan Savanna of Nigeria.
S. B. Shamaki, G. A. Abubakar, M. B. Oyun et al.· Journal of Agriculture and E...· 0 citations
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