Analysis of Impacts of Tillage Practices for Integrated Nutrients Management Systems on Maize performance

Field experiments were carried out during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons to assess the impact of tillage practices and integrated nutrients management systems on soil physical properties and grain yield of maize in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Treatments were made of factorial combination of three (3) tillage practices (No Tillage (NT),Minimum tillage (MT) and 30cm Raised seed bed (RSB) and ten (10) levels of integrated nutrients management systems (No application,100 Kg NPK/ha,200 Kg NPK/ha, 300 Kg NPK/ha,100 Kg NKP + 5 t/ha PM, 100 Kg NPK + 5 t/ha CD, 200 Kg NPK + 5 t/ha CD,200 Kg + 5 t/ha PM, 10 t/ha PM and )10 t/ha CD) resulting in total of thirty (30) treatment combinations. The treatment combinations were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The tillage practices constituted the main plots while the nutrients levels were assign to the sub-plots. Three (3) composite auger soil samples were collected at 0 - 15 cm depth before planting for physico - chemical properties analysis. Ninety (90) undisturbed soil samples were also taken at 0-15 cm each in 2018 and 2019 across the experimental plots using core sampler to assess soil physical properties such as bulk density, surface soil porosity, hydraulic conductivity and soil moisture content. The maize variety Oba 2 Hybrid was planted at a spacing of 0.25 m x 0.75 m. Grain yield (t/ha) was taken at harvest to assess the effect of tillage practices and integrated nutrients management systems on maize performance. The data collected on soil physical properties and grain yield of maize were analyzed using ANOVA test based on randomized complete block design (RCBD). Results show that the soil pH of the study area was slightly acidic, low nutrients status, high bulk density (1.72 Mg/m3), low surface soil porosity (35 %,) low hydraulic conductivity in the surface horizon with sandy loam in texture. Raised seed bed tillage practice significantly (p<0.05) improved soil physical properties, and grain yields of maize in the two cropping seasons. Integrated nutrients management systems show significant (p<0.05) improvement on soil physical properties and maize performance in the two cropping seasons. Improved values of soil physical properties grain yields of maize were obtained at 200 kg/ha NPK + 5 t/ha poultry manure amendments plots follow by other plots amended with combined organic and inorganic manures relative to the control and other plots containing either single application of organic or inorganic manure. Combined use of raised seed bed + 200 kg/ha NPK + 5 t/ha poultry manure significantly (p<0.05) improved the physical properties of soil and grain yield of maize relative to other treatment combinations both in 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons. Use of raised seed bed x 200 kg/ha NPK + 5 t/ha poultry manure is recommended for sustainable maize production in the study area. Integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers is hereby, recommended for sustainable maize production in makurdi, Southern guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria.