NITROGEN CONCENTRATION (Zea mays L.) FERTILIZED WITH SIAM WEED (Chromolaena odorata L.) PLANT RESIDUES

ABSTRACT

Soil depletion has been on the increase over the years as a result of over use of chemical fertilizers, continuous cultivation and other factors which has led to decrease in soil nutrients needed by plants for quality, economical and sustainable agricultural production. Hence this study was carried out to determine the nitrogen concentration of maize plant fertilized with Chromolaena odorata L .plant residue and to determine the rate of residue of C. odorata that will best supply nitrogen to maize. The field experiment was carried out in the late cropping season at Faculty of Agriculture Teaching and Research Farm, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design using 0, 1, 3, and 5 kg m-2 of C. odorata. Each treatment was replicated four times. At harvest, stem, leaf, husk and grain samples were collected, weighed, dried, reweighed and sent to Faculty of Agriculture laboratory for nutrient analysis. Data obtained were subjected to analysis variance (ANOVA) using SAS statistical package and mean was separated using LSD test at p=0.5%. Data analyzed showed that 5 kg gave the highest concentration of nitrogen, but there were no significant difference between 3 kg and 5 kg across all plants parts. Thus this study shows that C. odorata is able to supply nitrogen to maize when used as mulch.