EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER TYPES ON THE AGRONOMIC PARAMETERS AND YIELD OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) IN BASEMENT COMPLEX SOILS OF SOUTH WEST NIGERIA

The application of phosphorus fertilizers is crucial for improving agronomic parameters and enhancing maize productivity, especially in soils lacking phosphorus. A screenhouse study was carried out at the Center of Excellence in Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment (CEADESE) at the College of Plant Science and Crop Production (COLPLANT), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) to determine the effect of phosphorus fertilizer types on the agronomic parameters and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) plant in basement complex soils of Southwest Nigeria. Soil samples based on parent material (Basement complex) were collected from Imeko, FUNAAB and Owode. Poultry manure was collected from a Battery cage system at the Directorate of University Farms (DUFARMS). Single superphosphate (SSP) was purchased from an agrochemical store. Treatments used for the screenhouse study were control, poultry manure, and SSP. The Screenhouse experiment involved a 3 by 6 factorial experiment in 3 replications laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Five (5) kg of the processed soil sample were quantitatively transferred into the perforated pot. Poultry manure and SSP were applied at 90 kg P ha-1 . Agronomic parameters such as leaf area, plant height, number of leaves, and stem girth were collected at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after planting (WAP). Fresh weight was weighed after 8 weeks when the experiment was terminated. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using GENSTATs 19th edition. Significant treatment means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at 5% level of probability. Results showed that at 8 WAP, SSP significantly increased leaf area by 148.5% compared to the control and in Owode soils, poultry manure application significantly increased leaf area by 151.2, 222, and 129.6% compared to SSP at 2, 4, and 8 WAP, respectively. Application of SSP significantly increased number of maize leaves by 122.7% compared to poultry manure 2 application in Imeko soils at 8 WAP. At 4 WAP, poultry manure application significantly increased plant height by 131.6% compared to SSP in Owode soils. For FUNAAB soils, SSP application significantly increased stem girth by 142.9% compared to poultry manure at 2 WAP. In Owode soils, poultry manure increased stem girth by 167.9, 112, and 117.9% compared to SSP at 4, 6, and 8 WAP, respectively. SSP application significantly increased fresh weight of maize plant by 217.5% compared to poultry manure in FUNAAB soils. The study concluded that Imeko soils showed limited response to amendment, SSP application improved the agronomic parameters of FUNAAB soils. Agronomic parameters in Owode responded better to poultry manure application. Leaf area and plant height were more responsive to SSP application in P- deficient soils. Poultry manure application were more pronounced on maize stem girth and fresh weight. The study recommended that for Imeko soils, minimal fertilizer application may be enough for agronomic parameters of maize yield. For soils in FUNAAB, SSP should be applied in adequate amount while in Owode soils, poultry manure is preferred for maize plant.