Abstract:
Maize is a widely cultivated crop with significant agricultural and industrial uses. Its production depends on efficient soil fertility management, which is increasingly supported by the use of organic and inorganic amendments. The effectiveness of cassava peel compost (CPC) and Tithonia diversifolia compost (TdC) at 0 (control), 10, and 15 t ha⁻¹, as well as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) based fertiliser at 150 kg N ha⁻¹, was tested on maize in a randomised complete block design (r=3) in the field. Nutrient analysis was conducted following standard procedures. A residual trial was conducted immediately after harvest to assess the lasting impact of compost on maize yield. Data on dry matter (DM, g) and grain yield (GY, t ha⁻¹) were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance at α=0.05. NPK application initially enhanced maize performance more effectively than compost. However, in the second trial, compost application significantly improved maize performance compared to NPK. Maize GY and DM increased from 3.42 t ha⁻¹ and 224.53 g in the first trial to 3.95 t ha⁻¹ and 324.68 g in the second trial with the application of a higher rate (15 t ha⁻¹) of TdC. Soil Nitrogen (0.97% and 0.71%), phosphorus (34.08 mg/kg and 21.93 mg/kg), and potassium (0.69 cmol/kg and 1.09 cmol/kg) content in 15 t ha⁻¹ of TdC and CPC were higher compared to control, which contain 0.20% nitrogen, 17.17 mg/kg phosphorus and 0.31 cmol/kg potassium, respectively. Conclusively, compost alone may not replace synthetic fertilizers, but integrating TdC reduces NPK dependence, lowers environmental risks, and promotes sustainability.
