Effects of Poultry Manure Fertilization and Weed Control Method on Leaf Chlorophyll and Other Indices of Three Maize (Zea mays) Cultivars in Kano Sudan Savanna, Nigeria

Abstract

The present study was conducted in 2016 and 2017 rainy seasons to determine the responses of poultry manure (PM) on chlorophyll and other indicates in three maize cultivars, a split-split plot design with three replications was used. The experiment consists of SAMMAZ 15, 21, and 35 in the main plot, PM (0, 4, 8 and NPK) in sub-plot and weed control method (S-Metolachlor + Atrazine at 2.0kg a.i. ha^-1 fb Nicosulfuron at 100 g a.i. ha^-1, S-Metolachlor + Atrazine at 2.0kg a.i. ha^-1 fb Bentazone at 2.5kg a.i. ha^-1, Metolachlor + Terbuthylazine + Mesotrione at 2.5kg a.i ha^-1 fb Nicosulfuron at 100g a.i. ha^-1, Metolachlor + Terbuthylazine + Mesotrione at 2.5kg a.i ha^-1 fb Bentazone at 2.5kg a.i. ha^-1, two hoe weeded at 3, and 6 WAS and Weedy check) in sub-sub plots. Results showed that effective weed control method and PM/NPK significantly increased all indices. The Interaction of variety and poultry manure indicate that SAMMAZ 21 and 35 had the highest value of higher chlorophyll, dry matter and grain yield using NPK or 8 tha^-1 PM. Thus, it can be suggested that planting SAMMAZ 21 or 35 with 8 tha^-1PM or NPK using Metolachlor + Terbuthylazine + Mesotrione at 2.5 kg a.i ha^-1 fb Bentazone at 2.5 kg a.i. ha^-1 improve maize production.