Influence of Compost Supplemented with Jatropha Cake on Growth, Dry Matter Accumulation and Nutrient Uptake of Maize (Zeamays L.)

Summary

The potentials of compost supplemented with jatropha cake as soil amendments were evaluated under screenhouse at Kwara State University. Maize (variety EVDT-W99 STR) was used as test crop. The experiment consisted of two consecutive experiments in which residual effect was observed in the second experiment. The treatment were; control (Zero addition), NPK 15 –15-15 at 60 kg N/ha, 30% Grade B + 70% Jatropha cake at 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 t /ha, 40% Grade B + 60% Jatropha cake at 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 t /ha, 50% Grade B + 50% Jatropha cake at 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 t /ha, 60% Grade B + 40% Jatropha cake at 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 t /ha . The design was completely randomized design replicated three times. Results obtained showed that 50% Grade B + 50% Jatropha cake greatly influenced growth parameters of maize at first and second cropping. The 50% Grade B + 50% Jatropha cake treatment gave the highest Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake value; 13.28, 0.32 and 14.60 mg/pot respectively at second planting which differed significantly from all other treatments. The study showed that jatropha cake supplemented with compost at 2.5 t/ha gave higher growth parameters and nutrient uptake when compared with NPK at second planting.