Influence of Farmyard Manure and Urea Fertilizer on Phosphorus and Potassium Content in Grain and Straw of Maize (Zea mays L.) on a Sandy Loam Soil

A rain fed field experiment was conducted during the 2016 rainy season with the objective of investigating the influence of combined application of farmyard manure, FYM, and urea fertilizer on the phosphorus and potassium content in grain and straw of maize (Zea mays L. ) on the sandy loam soils of Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Teaching and Research farm. The experiment was laid out based on randomized complete block design. Treatments applied consisted of five levels of farmyard manure at 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10tons ha-1 and five levels of urea fertilizer at 0, 50, 75, 100 and 125kg urea per hectare. Results obtained revealed that the interaction effects of farmyard manure and urea fertilizer significantly (P0.05) influenced phosphorus and potassium content in maize grains and straw. Application of urea up to 75kg per hectare rate and beyond with up to 5.0t/ha FYM and above either solely or in combination produced positive responses. The result showed that 125 kg urea per hectare with 10t/ha FYM resulted in the highest content of phosphorus and potassium in both grains and straw. This tremendous effect indicate that increase in P and K contents were greater for treatment which received combination of FYM and urea than urea alone, and even far greater than treatment with FYM alone. At 100 kg urea per hectare in combination with the various levels of FYM the result revealed significant (P0.05) effect which recorded higher grain P and K contents than combination of FYM with 125 kg urea per hectare.