Efficacy of Organic Fertilizers Produced Using Locally Formulated Effective Microorganisms on the Growth and Yield Responses of Maize

Aims: A study was conducted on growth and yield responses of maize to organic fertilizers produced from organic municipal solid wastes (MSW) using locally formulated effective microorganisms (EM-A and EM-B), commercial effective microorganisms (EM-C), Neem-based organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers.

Study Design: The study was laid out in a Completely Randomized Block Design with three replicates each.

Place and Duration of Study: Research was sited at Department of Works, Bosso Campus of Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria between July and October, 2016.

Methodology: Maize was planted in the experimental plot and four organic fertilizers as well as one inorganic fertilizer (NPK15:15:15) were applied as treatments. Growth parameters were monitored and recorded weekly while yield parameters were determined after harvest.

Results: Plant height, leaf number, leaf area, cob length, cob diameter and number of grains per cob differed significantly (P< 0.05). MF,(Soil with inorganic fertilizer, NPK15:15:15), recorded the highest plant height of 259 cm. MB and MC, (organic fertilizers produced with EM-A and EM-B respectively), recorded the highest leaf number of 16, while ME, which contained Neem-based organic fertilizer had the highest leaf area. On yield responses, MD,(organic fertilizers with commercial EM), recorded the best yield with cob length of 20.85 cm, cob diameter of 15.90 cm and a mean number of grains per cob of 623. This was followed by MB with cob length of 18.25 cm, highest cob diameter of 16.30 cm and second highest mean number of grains per cob of 500.

Conclusion: The organic fertilizers demonstrated more adequacies for crop use than the inorganic fertilizers. Although the maize plants where inorganic fertilizers were applied recorded highest plant height, the crop yield was lower than that of organic fertilizers-based treatments. The organic fertilizers produced from solid organic wastes also demonstrated both higher growth and yield responses than the Neem-based organic fertilizers.