EFFECT OF ORGANIC MANURE AND NPK FERTILZER ON THE GROWTH OF Zea

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study sassed effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer on the growth of zea mays (maize). The objectives is to assess maize growth characteristics (height, leaf size, root development) under different fertilizer applications, to analyze soil nutrient composition before and after fertilization, and to compare the yield performance of maize treated with organic and inorganic fertilizers. The maize seeds that were used during this experiment were obtained from Sokoto main Market. Fifteen (15) seeds of maize were used for the experiment which were planted inside 9 polythene bags filled with soil sample which was collected from the Department of Plant Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. Each bag containing 3 seed which make them 27, the bags were then divided into three, three of which organic fertilizer was used, while three for inorganic fertilizer, while the last three were kept as control according. At the early stage (week 1–2), all treatments produced a similar number of leaves, showing no significant difference. However, from week 3 onward, the maize plants treated with cow dung (organic fertilizer) began to show a noticeable increase in leaf number. By week 6, the organic treatment recorded the highest mean number of leaves (12 ± 0.30), while the control and NPK plots produced fewer leaves (7 ± 0.20 and 6 ± 0.15 respectively). This trend demonstrates that organic fertilizer promotes better vegetative growth in maize than inorganic fertilizer or unfertilized soil. Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made: Farmers should be encouraged to use organic fertilizers such as cow dung, compost, and green manure to improve maize yield and maintain soil fertility sustainably.