Effects of various organic manure on the growth and yield of maize in Asaba agro – ecological zone

A study was carried out in 2009 at the Teaching and Research farm of Agronomy Department, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Nigeria to evaluate the effect of various rates of different organic manures on the growth and yield of maize in Asaba agro-ecological zone. Poultry manure, pig manure and compost manure applied at 0, 4, 8 and 12kg served as the treatments: The experiment was arranged in a randomised complete block design, replicated three times. Generally, the responses of the maize plant in terms of plant height, leaf area, number of leaves, plant girth and yield components (corn-cob, dry grain weight of 1000 grains and numbers of rows per cob were manure type dependent with the poultry manure producing the highest values in all the parameters measured at 12kg application rate, followed by plants grown in compost manure and pig manure while the control without manure treatment recorded the least valves in all the indices measured. Based an the results, it is hereby recommended to farmers in Asaba agro-ecological zone that 12kg of poultry manure be applied to soil in order to increase the nutrient level to enhance growth and yield of maize in the area.