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Most researchers have shown that organic manures are a panacea for soil fertility management in the dry savanna of
Nigeria. An experiment was carried out at the Faculty of Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano in May, 2015 to check the
response of addition of organic and inorganic nitrogen sources on soil properties and uptake of nitrogen by maize seedling.
Two maize varieties (2009 EVDT and 2009 TZEEW) were evaluated alongside three organic N sources (cow manure,
poultry manure and sheep manure) with an inorganic N source (urea). The treatments were arranged in a completely
randomized design and replicated three times; the experiment was conducted in experimental pots of equal height and
diameter. From the result, it was observed the N sources responded well to plant height at 4 weeks after sowing with the
highest plant height observed with poultry manure treatment and the variety 2009 TZEEW(66 cm). There was also a
significant effect for leaf chlorophyll content, with poultry manure treatments showing more chlorophyll content (41.9).
From the result of the soil analysis, there were no significant difference observed among the various nitrogen sources for
organic carbon, organic matter and cation exchange capacity but treatment with poultry manure shows highest organic
carbon (0.95%), organic matter (1.6%) and CEC (10.6 cmol(+)kg-1)), there was no statistical effect for soil physical and
chemical properties due to the application of the organic and inorganic N sources. This may be due to the nature of the
experimental pots which disrupt the soil natural condition and the slow effect of organic matter application to the soil.
Although not statistically different, poultry manure compared favorably with urea. The experiment shows that poultry
manure as an organic N source compared favorably with urea as an inorganic N source in terms of nutrient release to
maize and in improving soil properties.