The Effect of Inorganic Fertilizer and Liquid Fertilizer Applications on the Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea Mays L.) in Makurdi, Nigeria

The study was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi (JOSTUM), Nigeria, during the late growing seasons of 2023 and 2024 to evaluate the effects of different fertilizer combinations on the growth and yield of maize. The study adopted randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five treatments: NPK (200kg/ha), NPK (200kg/ha) and AgriLife AgriBoom(1ltr/ha), NPK (200kg/ha) and AgriLife AgriBoom (2ltr/ha), AgriLife AgriBoom(3ltr/ha) and NPK (200kg/ha) and Urea (100kg/ha) as control). Data was investigated using two-way ANOVA, and means were compared employing the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at P ≤ 0.05. The study found no significant differences in days to 50% tasseling and silking across treatments. However, significant differences were observed in plant height, ear height, number of leaves, and leaf area index at eight weeks after planting. NPK (200kg/ha) and Urea (100kg/ha) recorded the highest values for these growth parameters, followed by (200kg/ha NPK) and NPK (200kg/ha), and AgriLife AgriBoom (2ltr/ha), while AgriLife AgriBoom(3ltr/ha) performed the lowest. Yield parameters such as cob yield, grain yield, biomass weight, harvest index, and shelling percentage showed significant differences among treatments. NPK (200kg/ha) and Urea (100kg/ha) outperformed all other treatments, while AgriLife AgriBoom(3ltr/ha) recorded the lowest yield. Although the number of lines per cob showed no statistical difference, NPK with Urea still recorded the highest values. No significant seasonal effect was observed between the 2023 and 2024 trials. The study concluded that split application of NPK (200kg/ha) and Urea (100kg/ha) significantly enhances maize yield and is more effective than NPK blends or liquid fertilizer alone. For resource-limited farmers, NPK (200kg/ha) and AgriLife AgriBoom(2ltr/ha) is a cost-effective alternative. The study recommends adopting NPK (200kg/ha) and Urea (100kg/ha) or NPK (200kg/ha) and AgriLife AgriBoom(2ltr/ha) for optimal maize yield in Makurdi.