COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF UREA AND NPK (15:15:15) FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON MAIZE GROWN ON DEGRADED SOIL ALONG MAKURDI-ABUJA ROAD

ABSTRACT This study was carried out to compare the effects of urea and NPK fertilizer application on the agronomic parameters of maize grown on degraded soil. A half mudu of the seeds of maize were bought from Wadata market in Makurdi metropolis and transported in a sterile polyethene bag to the Plant Science and Biotechnology Laboratory for experimentation. Five mudu each of Urea and N:P:K fertilizer (15:15:15) were bought from the same market. Top soil sample (0-20cm) depth were randomly collected and bulked to form composite samples in four (4) 50Kg sack bags along Makurdi-Abuja road and were transported to the experimental site behind Faculty of Science Complex of Benue State University, Makurdi. On day 3 after planting more of the maize seeds treated with NPK + Urea emerged faster than the other treatments, followed by the treated with N.P.K. However, no significant difference (P>0.05) was observed between all the treatments as well the control. The result further showed an increase in the number of seeds emerged from Day 3-12 with the NPK and the NPK + Urea having equal number of emerged seeds of 6. After 6 days of emergence, the height of the maize seedlings treated with NPK fertilizer had the highest height amongst the seedlings in other treatments, but no significant difference (P>0.05) was observed. After 12 days of emergence, the height was significantly higher (P>0.05) in the control seedlings compared to the Urea; however, no statistical difference (P