Global Journal of Science Frontier Research, D: Agriculture and Veterinary, Volume 22 Issue 1

Potential of Bio-Organic Mix as an Alternative to Inorganic Fertilizer in Maize Production in Africa Yusuf, T. M Abstract- Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most abundantly produced and consumed cereal in the world. Major challenge in maize production in Africa is low soil fertility due to lack of sustainable soil fertility restoring inputs among others. This study investigated the potentials of Moringa-banana- maize mix, a biodegradable, environment friendly and abundantly available free gifts of nature in soil fertility improvement. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the mixture of Moringa olifera leaves (MO) +Banana Peels (BL) +Maize Stalks (MS) on yield and profitability of maize production. Specifically, to choose the right combination of the mix and determine the correct mode of application. Field and screen house experiments were conducted in 2020 planting seasons, at the Teaching and Research Farm of Kwara State University, Malete. Four treatments were considered and each represented a technology on field/screen trials. These include; A=100N+40P+30K, B= 120N+50P+40K, C= 70N+30P+ 20K and the control using the national recommended dose of 90kg/ha of NPK fertilizer (for comparison). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Data were collected on maize growth parameters; crop yield, cost and returns. These were subjected to statistical and economic viability analyses. Results showed that application of the mixed MO leaves +BP+MS at the rate of B= 120N+50P+40K significantly (P< 0.05) increased the maize net income. It had the highest net income across the trials ( ₦ 1,733,500 (US$3,467). It was also discovered that the mixture was most effective when applied in solid form and in the open field. On the basis of these findings the use of moringa/banana/maize mixture a bio-organic fertilizer applied at the rate of 120N+50P+40K was recommended for adoption by maize farmers. Keywords: maize, yield, economic performance, moringa leaves, banana peels, and maize stalks. I. I ntroduction a) Background to the study thereby leaving a deficit of 1.9 Billion Metric Tonnes. Hence the need for increased maize production. Maize is the most important cereal crop in Africa. It is critical to more than 300 million small holder livelihoods and accounted for 30-50 percent of Africa expenditure (FAO, 2019). Nigeria in 2019 was the second largest maize producer in Africa. It had an average maize production volume of about 11 million Metric Tonnes (MMT) after South Africa with 16 MMT and Ethiopia third with 8.4 MMT (USDA Data 2020). However, as of January 2021, Nigeria is ranked 40 th largest maize importer in the world, importing about 400,000Metric Tonnes of maize on yearly basis (Premium Times 2021). This is because the local demand is more than the national production. In 2019, while total production was 11 MMT, total demand was more than 12 MMT leaving a deficit of more than 1MMT (Federal Ministry of Agriculture (2019). This may not be unconnected with the fact that more than 80 percent of maize production in Africa is carried out by small holders whose major challenge is low soil fertility(Urassa,2015). Low soil fertility results from; continuous cropping, removal of crop residues for animal feed and shelter, bush burning, leaching as a result of torrential rain and lack of soil fertility restoring inputs to balance soil nutrients there by resulting into low crops yield and low income. (Adams et al ., 2015). Unfortunately, the traditional measures of restoring soil fertility including bush fallowing and land rotation are no longer fashionable as a result of population pressure. Farmers therefore, embraced the use of inorganic fertilizers to augment soil nutrient and boost yield. However, inorganic fertilizers are mostly unavailable, and when available, are very expensive, hence, out of the reach of about 70% farmers (FAO, 2019; Urassa, 2015) who are responsible for feeding the people. Inorganic fertilizer besides promoting the luxuriant growth of pest habouring weeds which compete with and inflict injury on our crops on the field, produce weed seeds that contaminate stored grains, it is also associated with land degradation, increase in soil acidity, breakdown of microbial activities in the soil, and environmental pollution. According to Loks et al ., (2015) ccontinuous use of inorganic fertilizer results in its reduced nutrient release efficiency thereby leaving behind in the soil large proportion of unused nutrients which are likely to damage the soil and the environment. 1 Year 2022 9 © 2022 Global Journals Global Journal of Science Frontier Research Volume XXII Issue ersion I VI ( D ) Author: Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria. e-mail: taibat.yusuf@kwasu.edu.ng aize (Zea mays L.) (corn) is the most abundantly produced and consumed cereal in the world. It ranks first worldwide with wheat and rice following in terms of importance (OECD-FAO, 2016). Maize grains are useful raw materials in pharmaceuticals, food industries, domestic fuel and animal feed production (Relief Web, 2017) This makes it one of the crops with the highest demand in the world (IITA 2019). According to Urassa, (2015) the demand for maize worldwide hits 3Billion Metric Tonnes while the global production was about 1.1 Billion Metric Tonnes M