EFFECTS OF GROUNDNUT SHELL, RICE HUSK AND RICE STRAW ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF MAIZE (Zea Mays L.) AND SOIL FERTILITY IN THE GUINEA SAVANNAH ZONE OF GHANA

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Nyankpala, near Tamale during the 2014 cropping season to investigate the effects of indigenous organic materials (groundnut shell, rice husk and rice straw) on yield components and yield of maize. The study was a 3 × 3 × 3 factorial experiment consisting of the three organic materials at three levels (2.5, 5 and 7.5 t ha-1 on dry matter basis) and three NPK rate (zero control, 45-30-30 kg/ha and 90-60-60 kg/ha) laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Best grain yield of 4781 kg/ha was obtained with 7.5 t/ha groundnut shell plus 90-60-60 kg NPK/ha but 5 t/ha of groundnut shell plus 90-60-60 kg NPK/ha, 7.5 t/ha groundnut shell plus 45-30-30 kg NPK/ha, 7.5 t/ha of rice husk or rice straw plus 90-60-60 kg NPK/ ha gave equal yields. Longest cob was obtained with 5 to 7.5 t/ha groundnut shell (18.9 cm) or 7.5 t/ha rice husk (17.9 cm) or 7.5 t/ ha rice straw (17.9 cm), each plus at least 45-30-30 kg NPK/ha. However, sole application of 5 to 7.5 t/ha groundnut shell notably determined cob weight (116.4 g/cob), 100 seed weight (24.9g) and stover weight (4822 kg/ha). Similarly, sole application of NPK at 45-30-30 kg/ha was adequate to enhance cob length (16.8 cm), cob weight (127.4 g/cob) and stover weight (4514 kg/ha).Grand yield corelated positively with stover weigth (r=0.851**) cob length (r=0.601**).