Use of Poultry Droppings and Wood Ash as Soil Amendment and its Effect on Soil Properties and Yield of Maize

Abstract

Improvement in soil physicochemical and biological properties through the use of organic amendment is necessary for increased crop yield. This study evaluated the effects of poultry dropping, (PD) and wood ash (WA) on soil properties and maize grain yield in an ultisol in southeastern, Nigeria. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with four treatments replicated five times. The treatments were 0 t ha-1 (control), 4 t ha-1PD , 4 t ha-1 WA and 2 t ha-1 PD + 2 t ha-1 WA . Results of the study showed significant (p ≤0.05) decrease in bulk density and increase in total porosity in amended soil relative to the T1 (control). Similarly, soil chemical properties (Ca, Mg, pH, OM, avail P, Na, K) were significantly increased relative to the control. Application of the amendments increased maize grain yield relative to the control with highest increased observed in 4 t ha-1PD amended plots. The use of PD and WA for soil property improvement and increased crop yield is recommended for the studied soil.