Abstract

Field study was conducted at the experimental site of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria during the 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons to determine the effect of maize (Zea mays L.) varieties and fertilizer types on postharvest soil chemical properties. The experiment was laid out in 3 x 4 split plot arrangement fitted into a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The main plots were SUWAN–I–SR, Oba 98 and Uselu local maize varieties and the subplots were control, poultry manure, cattle manure and NPK fertilizer. Data were collected on some growth parameters, grain yield components and some postharvest soil chemical properties. The results showed that application of fertilizer significantly (p<0.05) improved maize vegetative characters, yield components and grain yield. The results also showed that, plots cropped with SUWAN-1-SR and Oba 98 had higher organic carbon than “Uselu” Local plots. SUWAN-1-SR cropped plots had the highest available phosphorus (10.70 mg kg-1), exchangeable H+ (0.43 cmol kg-1) and exchangeable Al3+ (0.13 cmol kg-1) than soil cropped with Oba 98 and “Uselu” Local. Lead (Pb) was highest (0.19 mg kg-1) in plots treated with cattle manure. Poultry and cattle manures improved soil fertility through increase in soil pH, organic carbon and exchangeable cations.