International Journal of Horticulture, 2017, Vol.7, No. 15, 124-132
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significantly in both seasons with application of SBE and PM. Also, the alteration of the levels of PM and SBE
further improved the characteristics of the soil at significant level in 2015, as compared to the control plots.
Table 2 Chemical composition of spent bleaching earth (SBE) and pig manure
Spent Bleaching Earth
Pig manure
Composition
Value
Composition
Value
K
2
O %
0.85
pH
6.70
Na
2
O %
0.46
Organic C (g/kg)
264.00
Fe
2
O
3
%
3.85
Nitrogen (g/kg)
21.40
SiO
2
%
59.98
C:N ratio
12.30
Al
2
O
3
%
16.95
Total P (g/kg)
40.20
CaO %
3.92
Total K (g/kg)
1.20
MgO%
2.89
Ca (g/kg)
27.20
Moisture %
11.20
Mg (g/kg)
2.60
Bulk density
kg/dm3 54.50
Na (g/kg)
0.40
pH of aqueous suspension
4.52
Fe (g/kg)
5.60
Cu (mg/kg)
37.30
Kn (mg/kg)
206.60
Mn (mg/kg)
261.00
2.3 Interactive effect of SBE and PM on the vegetative growth of maize (Zea mays L.) at 2WAP
The two sources of organic materials applied to the plots have significant effect on the vegetative growth of maize
during the two dry season farming. In 2013/2014 dry season, applications of different levels of PM at zero level of
SBE have variable effects on the vegetative growth of maize. There was no significant difference in number of
leaves at 2WAP. A significant increase were recorded in plant growth parameters when 5 tons of SBE was added
to various levels of PM. Plots that received 5 tons SBE combined with 5 or 10 t/ha
-1
PM are not significantly
different in terms of leaf area, plant height, stem diameter, number of roots and total root length (Table 3a).
In 2014/2015 dry season experiment, at 2 WAP, progressive significant increases were recorded with increase in
the levels of SBE at zero level of PDM. An instant of increase in the level of PM from zero to 10 t/ha
-1
, at various
levels of SBE brought about a significant linear increase in growth parameters of maize plant. However,
application of 7.5 or 10 t/ha
-1
of SBE combined with 10 t/ha
-1
of PM do not show significant difference on leaf
area, plant height, stem girth, number of roots and total root length (Table 3b).
Table 3a Interactive effect of spent bleaching earth and pig dung manure on the vegetative growth and nitrogen utilization of maize
(Zea mays L.) at 2 WAP (2013/2014)
Treatments
Parameters
SBE PM Number of leaves Leaf area (cm
2
) Plant height (cm) Stem diameter (cm) Number
of
roots
Total root length
(cm)
0
0 9.00a
104.80b
58.00b
2.60c
15.80b
14.10b
2.5 9.00a
104.70b
57.80b
2.80b
12.00c
8.80d
5 9.00a
105.30b
57.85b
2.85ab
16.50a
13.00c
10 9.30a
110.10a
59.50a
2.90a
16.80a
14.80a
ns
b
b
b
b
b
5
0 9.10a
115.40d
62.50c
2.80c
15.60ab
18.00b
2.5 9.00a
127.60c
70.70b
2.80c
15.60ab
18.00b
5 9.00a
133.40ab
71.30b
3.50b
16.30a
18.40a
10 9.10a
135.60a
73.60a
3.70a
16.27a
18.50a
ns
a
a
a
a
a
PM *
*
*
*
*
*
SBE * PM **
**
**
**
**
**
Note: SBE = Spent Bleaching Earth; PM = Pig Manure; ns = not significantly different at LSD (0.05) probability level; * =
significantly at LSD (0.05), ** = Highly significantly at LSD (0.05)
