International Journal of Horticulture, 2017, Vol.7, No. 15, 124-132
131
5.2 Experimental design/ Procedure
Two experiments were carried out in two dry seasons of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 to determine the effects of soil
nutrient management strategies using pig manure and spent bleaching earth combinations at different levels in
inland valley swamp, using residual soil moisture to produce late season maize. TOCOB early maturing white
maize variety was obtained from Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Akure, Ondo-State, pig manure
was obtained from Livestock section, Teaching and Research Farms, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, while spent
bleaching earth was obtained from Jof Ideal Family Vegetable Oil Plant, Owo, Ondo State.
In 2013/2014 experiment, the treatments were two levels of spent bleaching earth (0 and 10 ton/ha) as main plots
and four levels of pig dung manure (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 ton/ha) as sub plots. Each treatment was replicated 4 times.
This gives a total of 32 plots. In 2014/2015 experiment, on different plots, two levels of pig dung manure (0 and
10 ton/ha) as main plot was combined with four levels of spent bleaching earth (0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 ton/ha), sub plots,
in 4 replicates. In both experiments treatments were applied at land preparation. Before planting, the plots were
manually tilled, pulverized and laid out at 4 x 6 m (24 m
2
) and treatments were randomized to plots by balloting.
Two seeds were planted at 3 cm deep with a spacing of 60 x 60 cm. Weeds were manually controlled with hand
hoe at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after planting. Soil moisture was supplemented with drip irrigation system to
complement crop water demand at 50% tasselling.
Ten (10) soil samples were randomly collected across the farm with soil auger at a depth of 0 – 30 cm. Samples
were mixed together and a representative composite sample was analyzed for the necessary physicochemical
properties before the commencement of the experiments. Particle size (Bouyoucos hydrometer method), soil
texture (USDA textural triangle), bulk density (core method), hydraulic conductivity (constant head method), soil
pH in water and KCl (1:1) (electrometric method), organic carbon (oxidation method), total nitrogen
(Macro-Kjeldahl digestion), CEC (1 N Ammonium acetate), extractible phosphorous (Bray-1 method), calcium
and magnesium (EDTA titration), and Na and K (flame photometer). Base saturation was calculated by dividing
the sum of exchangeable bases by CEC and multiplying by 100.
Ten (10) representative maize plants from each plot were chopped, and a 500 g sub-sample was used to determine
dry matter and total N content by a standard Kjeldahl digestion.
5.3 Data collection and statistical analysis
Observations on growth parameters were taken at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks after planting (WAP) on plant height,
stem girth, leaf area, leaf area index, number of leaves, root / shoot ratio and days to flowering. The yield
components measured include weight of cob, number of seed per cob, weight of 100 seeds and yield per hectare.
The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS statistical package 15.0 version.
The differences between means were separated with Duncan Multiple Range System at 5% level of probability.
Acknowledgements
Funding for this project was provided by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and supervised by Center for Research and
Development (CRD), Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo. The Director of CRD, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Dr. (Mrs) Ajala Lola is
gratefully acknowledged.
Refrences
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chemical composition. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, 15: 34-41
Adeniyan O.N., and Ojeniyi S.O., 2003, Comparative effectiveness of different levels of poultry manure and NPK fertilizer on residual soil fertility, nutrient
uptake and yield of maize. Moor Journal of Agricultural Research, 4: 194-197
Aderibigbe A.T.B., and Eleduma A.F., 2016, Water productivity and pig dung ash effects on upland rice (Oryza sativa L; cv- Ekpoma Local) grown in inland
valley swamp (fadama) of Owo, South Western Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Studies, 3(4): 1-8
Ano A.O., and Agwu J.A., 2005, Effect of animal manure on selected soil chemical properties. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, 15(1): 14-19
Awanlemhen B.E., and Ojeniyi S.O., 2012, The effect of oil palm bunch ash on growth, yield and nutrient availability of maize, Nigerian Journal of Soil
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