Amelioration Of Soil Acidity In An Ultisol Using Cocoa Husk Ash For Maize Zea Mays) Production In Umudike, Southeastern Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

A pot experiment was conducted at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike to evaluate the amelioration of Cocoa husk ash on soil acidity and maize production. Five levels of the treatments: 0,2,4,6 and 8t/ha of the cocoa husk ash were applied and replicated three times in acompletely randomized design. The result obtained showed significantly different (P<O.05) in N, P, K, Ca, Mg, number of roots and dry matter yield with 8tlha g1ihg the highest maize yield. The pH level was increased with increase in treatment application and also there was a positive correlation between plant height, number of leaves, fine roots branching and dry matter, grain yield on soil pH (H20), K, Ca, etc. There was a negative Correlation between exchangeable acidity and the yield parameters, there was no significant difference (P<0.05) for plant height and number of leaves.