The influence of organic materials on the fertility of Melko/Nitosol for grain maize (Zea Mays L.)
1996
Tilahun Tadious | Tesfa Bogale (IAR, Addis Abeba (Ethiopia)) | Adjei-Twum, D.C.
Low soils fertility at Jimma zone (Southwestern Ethiopia) has been entailed by continuos decrease in soil organic matter which might be improved through proper management and utilization of crop residues and farm yard manure. In cognizant of this, the use of locally available residues of maize and soybean stover ant cow dung were, compared each at a rate of five t/ha and treated with two levels of nitrogen, (0 and 60 kg/ha). A factorial experiment under randomized complete black design (RCBD) was used in four replications. The trial was carried out for four seasons from 1987 to 1990. Pooled results over the experimental period showed statistically significant (p=0.05) grain yield differences. Grain yields of 4.98 t/ha, 5.74 t/ha and 6.22 t/ha were obtained from maize and soybean residues and cow dung, respectively. On the other hand, Nitrogen treated plots had exhibited a significant yield increase of 39 to 75 percent over the check. Soybean and cow dung incorporated to the soil without nitrogen gave the best crop performance with a relative yield advantage to 8 percent, respectively. Maize residue without nitrogen application was observed to depress yield of maize by 8 percent.
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