Influence of Amendments Added to Acid Soils on Biochemical Properties, Nitrogen Uptake and Hybrid Maize Yields in Nakuru County, Kenya

Joyce J. Lelei *

Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University Egerton, P.O. Box 536-20115 Kenya

Richard N. Onwonga

Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology, University of Nairobi. P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi.

Joseph K. Macharia

Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University Egerton, P.O. Box 536-20115 Kenya

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Aim: The current study investigated effect of soil amendments; lime (L), manure (FYM) and minjingu phosphate rock (PR) added to soils on soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen (SMB-C and SMB-N), available soil nitrogen (N), crop N uptake and grain yields of two maize hybrids (H513 and H614).
Study Design: Two experiments, one for each maize hybrid as test crop, were laid out in a randomized complete block design with a 23 factorial arrangement. The factors each at two levels were L (0 and 3 t ha-1), PR (0 and 60 kg P ha-1) and FYM (0 and 5 t ha-1) giving a total of eight treatments; L, RP, FYM, L+RP, L+FYM, RP+FYM, L+RP+FYM and control (nothing applied).
Methods: Soil and plant samples for the determination of SMB-C and SMB-N, available soil N, and crop N uptake were collected at maize seedling, tasseling and physiological maturity.
Place and Duration of the Study: The experiment was conducted in Molo district of Nakuru County, Kenya during the long rain seasons of 2009 and 2010.
Results: SMB-C and N levels were higher in 2010 than 2009, with lower levels obtained at maize tasseling for both maize hybrids. Available soil N and crop N uptake were higher at maize seedling and declined towards maturity. Statistically significant (P<.05) increases in SMB-C and SMB-N and available soil N and uptake were obtained with the application of soil amendments over the control. In all treatments, H513 had lower N uptake than H614 at tasseling and maturity stages of maize growth and correspondingly higher available N in soil. Maize yields (t ha-1) were higher in 2010 than 2009 and in H614 than H513. The H614 yields were significantly higher (P<.05) in L+PR+FYM (3.9) and, L+PR+FYM (4.1) and L+PR (3.9) treatments in 2009 and 2010, respectively. For H513, yields were significantly higher in L+PR+FYM (2.1 and 2.4) and L+PR (1.9 and 2.1) treatments in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
Conclusion: The L+PR+FYM treatment is a feasible acid soil amendment for its superiority in the measured soil and crop parameters. The H513 matured faster than H614 and because of this attribute, is a viable option in response to the diminishing rainfall amounts and unpredictable weather patterns experienced in the County.

Keywords: Maize hybrids H614 and H513, oil acidity, soil amendments, soil microbial carbon and nitrogen, weather patterns.


How to Cite

Lelei, Joyce J., Richard N. Onwonga, and Joseph K. Macharia. 2014. “Influence of Amendments Added to Acid Soils on Biochemical Properties, Nitrogen Uptake and Hybrid Maize Yields in Nakuru County, Kenya”. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science 3 (5):467-84. https://doi.org/10.9734/IJPSS/2014/7817.