UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF POME AS SOIL AMENDMENT TO ENHANCE GROWTH AND YIELD PERFORMANCE OF MAIZE CULTIVATED ON BRIS SOIL

Beach Ridges Interspersed with Swales (BRIS) soil is a problematic soil for agriculture due to nutrient deficiencies.However, palm oil mill effluent (POME), agricultural by-products can be utilised as a soil amendment.This study was carried out to evaluate the potential of POME to enhance the growth characteristics and yield performance of maize.The experiment was conducted in a randomised complete block design with five treatments and four replications.The treatments consisted of: NPK fertiliser (T1), POME (5 t ha -1 ) + NPK fertiliser (T2), POME (10 t ha -1 ) + NPK fertiliser (T3), POME (15 t ha -1 ) + NPK fertiliser (T4) and GML + NPK fertiliser (T5).This finding demonstrated that the application of POME significantly enhances soil fertility by increasing CEC.The highest POME application rate in T4 produced greater average cob weight, length, and diameter than T1 and T5.The T4 recorded the highest yield at 191 kg ha -1 , showing a 39% increase compared to T5.This study highlights the potential of POME, an agricultural by-product, as a soil amendment for BRIS soils demonstrating its positive effects on maize's growth and yield productivity and may offer a sustainable option in managing this waste product.