Influence Of Some Local Liming Materials And Organic Manures On Some Soil Properties And Growth Of Maize (Zea Mays L.)

ABSTRACT

Some investigations, which comprised one laboratory experiment, one nursery-site plot experiment and two simultaneous field plot trials, were carried out to determine the effects of alternative, but locally sourccd I iiiiiii materials and oreaiiic manures on soil properties, nutrient uptake and growth of maiic (as test crop) in Umudikc South eastern Nigeria. The results obtained showed that thc different lime materials increased soil p11 values relative to the control. Optimal performance of maize using woodash or carbide waste was at p11 5.5. On the average it required 8.28t/ha of woodash and 2.3tlha ofCa(01 1)2 respectively to raise soil ph to 5.5, 3.3i ha of fluedust and 2.5t!ha of carbide waste to raise soil pl I to 5.5. \Voodash application reduced exchangeable acidity from 1 .02 to 0.93 Cmol kg* 20t/ha organic manure application with woodash applied at 8.2 t/ha gave the best performance and increased maize grain yield from 490kg/ha to 520kg/ha and dry matter from 1 .8 to 2. 16 i/ha. Also, uptake of N,P,K, Ca, Mg were signiflcantly (p>O.OS) increased. Based on this study, applications of 8.25 t/ha of woodash, 2.5 t/ha carbide waste, 2.3 t/ha Ca(Ol I) and 3.3 t/ha of flue dust were recommended for optimum production of maiic in Umudike soils.