Inter & Active Effect of Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilizer on Maize (Zea mays L.) Performance on a Humid Alfisol Southwestern, Nigeria
Michael Rotimi Olojugba *
School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of the Gambia, Faraba Banta Campus, The Gambia.
Ibiloye, John Olufemi
Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A field trial was conducted in 2017 to investigate the interactive effect of the land preparation methods and different rates of nitrogenous fertilizer on maize performance and yield southwestern Nigeria. The experiment was a 3 by 3 factorial; conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a split plot management with tillage systems (T): Convectional tillage (CT), Reduced tillage (RT) and No-tillage (NT) as the main plot while nutrient amendments (N) rates (0, 50, and 120 Kg N.Ha-1) as sub-plots factor and all treatments were replicated three times. Growth and yield parameters were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). No tillage had the least plant height, stem diameter and stover weight but had the highest grains yield. Grain yield were not statistically different in all the tillage practices at different N rates applied but 60 kg N ha-1 seems best for maize production in the study area.
Keywords: Soil properties, tillage methods, nitrogenous fertilizer, fertilizer interaction.