TITLE:
Effect of Combined Application of Organic Farming Aid (OFA) and Inorganic Fertilizers on the Growth and Yield of Maize and Soil Microbial Properties in the Guinea Savannah Agro-Ecological Zone of Ghana
AUTHORS:
O. A. Amoako, J. Adjebeng-Danquah, R. Y. Agyare, E. K. Akley, H. Abeka, Julius Yirzagla, T. K. Tengey, P. Teinor, R. Alhassan, A. A. Ibrahim, C. Naapoal
KEYWORDS:
Organic Farming Aid, Labile C Pool, Wood Vinegar, Combined Application
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.14 No.10,
October
31,
2023
ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of different rates
of organic farming aid (OFA) and inorganic fertilizer on the productivity of
maize, chemical and microbial properties of soil for higher economic value.
Field experiments were conducted during the 2020 and 2021 cropping seasons at
the research fields of CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute located at
Nyankpala in the Guinea savannah agroecology of Ghana. The study consisted of
five treatment combinations: full
rate of OFA, full rate of NPK, 1/2 OFA + 1/2 NPK, full OFA + 1/2 NPK and a
control (no OFA and no NPK) which were arranged in a randomized complete block
design with four replications. Analysis of
variance indicated significant (P 0.05) treatment and year
interaction effect for all the growth parameters except for plant height, leaf area and leaf area
index. Apart from hundred seed weight, treatment and year interaction effect
for all the yield and yield components was significant (P 0.05). Application
of full rate of NPK (90:60:60) resulted in the highest grain yield of 4960 kg·ha-1, however it was statistically similar to those obtained by
the combined application of full rate of OFA (250 ml·ha-1)
+ 1/2 NPK and 1/2 OFA + 1/2 NPK with grain yield of 4856
kg·ha-1 and 4639 kg·ha-1 respectively. There was also a yield
advantage of 197. 5%, 191.3%, 178.3 and 79.1% over the control for full NPK
rate, full OFA rate + 1/2 NPK rate, 1/2 OFA rate + 1/2 NPK and full OFA rate
respectively. Application of full OFA rate + 1/2 NPK enhanced soil basal
respiration (evolved CO2) and mineralizable C, implying that,
combination of full OFA rate and NPK fertilizer would be necessary to boost
soil microbial activity and soil labile nutrient pool (labile C pool). This
suggests that combined use of full OFA rate + 1/2 NPK fertilizer can be a
better strategic tool for improving soil quality. The highest benefit cost
ratios (BCR) of 2.58 and 3.77 were obtained following the application of full
OFA rate + 1/2 NPK and 1/2 OFA rate + 1/2 NPK respectively. Hence, it could be concluded that complementary use of OFA
and NPK is more profitable than using single inputs (either OFA or NPK). Thus,
in promoting technology packages to farmers, development practitioners must
carefully consider the complementary of inputs that are cost-effective but economically rewarding.