RESIDUAL EFFECTS OF POULTRY MANURE AND MICROBIAL INOCULUM AMENDMENT

ABSTRACT

This experiment was conducted in the Experimental Field site of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City to ascertain the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil (Utisol) and to examine the residual effects of poultry manure and microbial inoculums on the vegetative growth and yield of maize (Zea mays). The treatments used were T1 = Soil + PM (Poultry Manure) + Bacillus spp, and T2 = Soil + PM + Pseudomonas spp. The experimental design used was Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The residual effects of the microbial inoculum shows a positive effect on the growth/yield of maize at harvest. The pH result of the studied soil also shows that there was significant difference between the treatments; T1- 5.07b and T2- 5.27a at 5% level of significance. The organic carbon (2.74a – 3.63a gkg1 ), organic matter(4.73a – 6.25a gkg1 ), total nitrogen(0.76a – 0.71a gkg1 ) and available phosphorus(11.90a – 11.60a gkg1 ) were generally found to be lower in the soil than they were before the experiment and they had no significant variation between the treatments. From week two to week eight, there was significant difference in the stem girth and leaf area.