Maize Grain Yield and Soil Macro Nutrients Dynamics to Varying Rates of Plant Residues Application

Abstract: Field trials were conducted at Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Farm on the response of maize grain yield and some soil nutrients have influenced by rates of residue application. It was a 6 x 3 factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replicates. The plant residue were: Chromolaena odorata,(CO) Maize stover,(MZ) Banana/Plantain leaves (BN), Leuceana leucocephela,(LL) Neem Clipping(NM) and Panicum maximum (PM) applied at 0, 10 and 20 t/ha rates two weeks before planting. Maize TZEE 1 – Y variety were planted at a spacing of 25 cm x 75 cm and two seeds per hole and thinned to one after two weeks. Data were analyzed for grain yield of maize and some soil properties at harvesting. Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance and the means were compared using the least significant difference at 5% level of probability. The parameters assessed were significantly influenced (P < 0.05) by the plant residue and rates of application. LL gave the highest grain yield for all the rates examined (1868.8, 4200.0 and 5337.5kg/ha) for 0, 10 and 20t/ha application rates while MZ gave the least grain yield, 1662.5, 2931.3 and 3850kg/ha for 0,10 and 20t/ha rates of application. LL gave the highest total N and higher OC, P and K compared to others. Optimum maize yield was obtained with application of 20 t/ha of plant residues, therefore, the addition of LL residues at 20t/ha is recommended for maximum maize yield.