Evaluating Added Benefits from Combined Cattle Manure and Fertilizer Application in a Maize Cropping System
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Date
2017
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Academia
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted at Kpongu in the Upper West region of Ghana to determine the added benefits in grain
yield of maize derived from the concurrent use of manure and mineral fertilizer, and their cost effectiveness. Factorial combinations
of cattle manure and mineral fertilizer each at 0, 50 and 100% of their recommended rates were evaluated in both the field and the
laboratory studies. The treatments were applied in a randomized complete block design with three replications on the field. The same
treatments were applied in the incubation study in a completely randomized design. The use of 100% NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus,
Potassium) + 5 t manure gave the highest grain yield of 4,678 kgha-1. Synergistic interactions resulting in added benefits in grain
yield were observed in all the combined nutrient inputs except 50% NPK + 2.5 t manure which accrued an added disadvantage of 44
kgha-1. Economic analysis proved that 100% NPK + 2.5 t manure and 50% NPK + 5 t manure were the most economically viable
combined treatments in terms of grain yield. Based on the results from this study, resource poor farmers in the Upper West region of
Ghana may reduce mineral fertilizer recommended rates by 50% and supplement it with 5 t quality (N >2.5%) cattle manure without
compromising yield and profit.
Description
This article is Published by Academia, 2017 and is also available at doi:10.17265/2162-5263/2017.01.004
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Citation
Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering B 6 (2017) 34-40