TITLE:
Effect of Fertilizers on the Productivity of Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivated in the Zinder Region (Niger Republic)
AUTHORS:
Oumarou Zango, Abdoulaye Moussa Oumarou, Abdou Harou, Brah Mahamadou Salissou, So Timothée Kouassi Agbo, Yacoubou Bakasso, Rabiou Abdou
KEYWORDS:
Maze, Organic Fertilizer, Mineral Fertilizers, Productivity, Zinder
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.15 No.11,
November
28,
2024
ABSTRACT: Maize constitutes one of the most important crops in Niger’s fight for food security, and it is cultivated in all regions of the country. However, maize cultivation is declining due to low soil fertility. This study focused on evaluating the impact of fertilizers on maize plant production in Zinder. The fertilizer effect was evaluated based on 21 quantitative and 9 qualitative descriptors proposed by IBPGR and CIMMYT 1991. The experiment was conducted during the rainy season in the experimental domain of Université André Salifou following randomized complete block designs with three repetitions. Seven fertilizer treatments, including two organic, two mineral, two combinations of fertilizers, and a control treatment, were applied. The analysis shows that fertilizers had positive effects on the earliness and productivity of the selected variety. The best yield of dry corn cob (7480 kg/ha) was recorded on organic fertilizer of composted poultry manure, which is equal to 4.8 times that obtained with the control (1561 kg/ha), followed by the mineral fertilizer NPK combined with composted cow dung with 6395.231 kg/ha. Therefore, the use of fertilizers could be an appropriate alternative to overcome the negative consequences of yield declines in the corn production system in the Zinder region.