PAPER TITLE :COMBINED EFFECTS OF TITHONIA MULCH AND UREA FERTILIZER ON SOIL PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND MAIZE PERFORMANCE

JOURNAL Of SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY | VOLUME 10 NUMBER 1 2019

Paper Details

  • Author(s) : Dayo-Olagbende, G.O.*; Ewulo, B.S. and Akingbola, O.O.
  • Abstract:

A field experiment was conducted at Apatapiti Layout, FUTA South Gate, Akure, Southwest
Nigeria to determine the combined effects of nitrogen fertilizer (urea) and tithonia diversifolia mulch
on maize yield and soil physico-chemical properties. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized
Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. The treatments combined two application
rates of mulch (3 and 6 t ha-1) and three levels of split urea fertilizer application (60 kgha-1 basal
application, 30 kgha-1 basal application+ 30 kgha-1applied at 15 days after basal application, 30 kgha-
1 basal application + 20 kgha-1 applied at 15 days after basal application + 10 kgha-1 applied at 30 days
after basal application). This gave seven treatment combinations including the control. The plot size
was 2 m x 2 m with 1 m space between plots and blocks. Maize (Zea mays L. var. TZB-SR) was planted
at 75 cm by 25 cm spacing and 10 plants were sampled per plot for biomass and yield parameters. Soil
samples were analyzed at the end of the experiment for physicochemical properties of each treatment.
Similar trends in results were observed at the two sites. Split application of urea (30kg ha-1basal
application + 20kg ha-1applied at 15 days after planting + 10kg ha-1applied at 30 days after planting)
combined with tithonia mulch at the rate of 6 t ha-1gave the best result for soil physical and chemical
properties as well as biomass and yield of maize plant. Soil N, Organic matter content and exchangeable
cations, total porosity, moisture content, CEC and infiltration rate were significantly (p>0.05) increased.
Dispersion ratio of the soils reduced on treatments containing mulch at all levels causing the soil to
be more stable. The high nutrient content of tithonia and its mulch effect on the soil improved the soil
physical and chemical properties.
Keywords: Tithonia diversifolia, dispersion ratio, infiltration rate, CEC, exchangeable cations