EFFECT OF INORGANIC FERTILIZER (N-P-K) ON THE GROWTH OF A NAMED CEREAL (MAIZE)

Ikelle Issie Ikelle¹, Anyigor Chukwuma¹ and Ndukwe Cornelius Chukwe²

Department of Industrial Chemistry

Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture

Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This work examines the effects of inorganic fertilizer (N-P-K) on maize. The preliminary soil analysis tests were carried out and the results include temperature of 28^oC, pH value of 7.4, moisture content of 14.7%, soil texture values are: sand 17.05%, silt 4.55%, clay 18.8%, while water constitutes 60.23%. The results of the soil analysis after the harvesting of the plant shows temperature of 29^oC, pH value of 8.0, moisture content of 17.5%, soil texture values are: sand 15%, silt 3.80%, clay 16.1%, while water constitutes 65.1%.  The control sample was analyzed for micronutrients with Ca – 0.0242, Mg – 0.4179, Fe – 2.4946, Zn – 3.2846, while the test sample has Ca – 0.0189, Mg – 0.0892,     Fe – 1.8914, Zn – 1.4858. The proper and daily observation of the plants’ growth were observed and recorded. The results suggest that the preliminary soil analysis are acceptable, hence, the soil supports plant growth. From the observation and plant analysis, the applied inorganic fertilizer made great impact in the plants in bed-B as they had faster growth rate, broad leaves and larger stems than the plants in bed-A.     

Keywords: Fertilizer, Macronutrients, Micronutrients, Germination