EFFECTS OF POULTRY MANURE AND N.P.K. FERTILIZER ON DRY MATTER YIELD AND UPTAKE OF NUTRIENTS IN MAIZE

Biomass production and nutrient uptake of maize variety were investigated in a pot experiment at the Teaching and Research Farm of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, between March and June, 2006. Maize variety (TZE Composite) were treated to four levels of poultry manure (10, 20, 30 and 40t ha¯¹) and N.P.K. (30, 60, 90 and 120kg ha¯¹). Poultry manure at 30t ha¯¹ produced highest biomass, growth characteristics and nutrient uptake in the maize variety among the poultry manure levels. Also, N.P.K. at 120kg ha¯¹ gave the highest biomass and uptake of nutrient elements among the levels of the N.P.K. fertilizer in the maize variety.  Significant difference occurred between  the  root  dry weight of the plant with N, P, Ca, S uptake  in the maize variety at 5%  levels respectively. However, plant with K and Mg uptake were highly significantly correlated with  root dry weight  at 1% probability level. Similarly, there was significant difference between the shoot dry weight and plant with N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S uptake.  Also, plant with N uptake was significantly correlated with shoot dry weight. For sustainable production of the maize variety in derived guinea savanna, poultry manure at 30t ha¯¹ and N.P.K. fertilizer at 120kg ha¯¹ could be used.