EFFECT OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC NITROGEN SOURCES ON SOIL PROPERTIES AND MAIZE SEEDLING NITROGEN UPTAKE

B.L. Abdulrahman*, M.U. Dawaki, I, Muhammad

Department of Soil Science

Bayero University Kano, Kano

email: balawan.ssc@buk.edu.ng, bassam.al98@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Most Researchers have shown that organic manures are a panacea for soil fertility management in the dry savanna of Nigeria. An experiment was carried out at the Faculty of Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano in May, 2015. Two maize varieties (2009 EVDT and 2009 TZEEW) were evaluated alongside three organic N sources (cow manure, poultry manure and sheep manure) with an inorganic N source (urea). The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design and replicated three times the experiment was conducted in experimental pots of equal height and diameter. From the result it was observed the N sources responded well to plant height at 4 weeks after sowing with the highest plant height observed with poultry manure treatment and the variety 2009 TZEEW(66 cm). There was also a significant effect for leaf chlorophyll content, with poultry manure treatments showing more chlorophyll content (41.9). From the result of the soil analysis,there were no significant difference observed   among the various nitrogen sources for organic carbon, organic matter and cation exchange capacity but treatment with poultry manure shows highest organic carbon (0.95%), organic matter (1.6%) and CEC(10.6cmol(+)kg^-1)), there was no statistical effect for soil physical and chemical properties due to the application of the organic and inorganic N sources. This may be due to the nature of the experimental pots which disrupt the soil natural condition and the slow effect of organic matter application to the soil. The experiment shows that poultry manure as an organic N source compared favorably with urea as an inorganic N source in terms of nutrient release to maize and in improving soil properties.