Integrated Effect of Compost and Nitrogen Fertilizer on Maize (Zea mays L.) Growth and Yield at Toke Kutaye District, West Shoa Zone, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at Toke Kutaye District on farmer’s field at Birbirsa and Dogoma Kebele (lowest administrative unit) in 2015 main cropping season to determine the effect of compost integrated with nitrogen fertilizer. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications in factorial arrangement with four different rates of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 25% rec., 50% rec. and 100% rec. or 0kg/ha, 23kg/ha, 46kg/ha and 92 kg/ha, respectively) and three levels of compost (0, 7.5 and 15t ha-1). Results showed that the main effect of compost significantly (P≤0.05) affected days to 50% tasseling, 50% silking, and 90% maturity, plant height, leaf area index, number of ears per plant, ear length, thousand kernels weight, and number of kernels per ear. Main effect of nitrogen significantly affected plant height, number of ears per plant, 1000-seed weight, dry biomass and grain yield. Moreover, the interaction effect of nitrogen and compost significantly (P≤0.05) influenced the number of kernels per ear, thousand seed weight, dry biomass and grain yield. Moreover, the highest dry biomass (16492.9 kg/ ha) and grain yield (8299kg/ ha) were recorded in the treatment that received 50% recommended N fertilizer combined with 15t/ha compost. Grain yield correlated positively with maize growth and yield components parameters. Based on the study findings, it is suggested that integrated use of N fertilizer at the rate of 50 % recommended combined with compost at 15t/ha had the potential to significantly increased maize yield in the study area.