Effect of Rates of Single Superphosphate added to Poultry Manure on Popcorn (Zea mays everta) Production in Jos, Plateau State

Field studies were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Kuru-Jos in 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons. The effect of rates of single superphosphate fertilizer to be added to poultry manure for Popcorn Zea mays everta Production in Jos was investigated. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replicates. Five treatments were used: 20 t ha-1 Poultry manure (PM) + O kg P2O5 ha-1 (control), 20 t ha-1 PM + 20 kg P2O5 ha-1, 20 t ha-1 PM + 40 kg P2O5 ha-1, 20 t ha-1 PM + 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 20 t ha-1 + 80 kg P2O5 ha-1. The results revealed that the grain yield of Popcorn were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the treatments in both seasons. The application of 20 t ha-1 PM + 80 kg P2O5 ha-1 gave the highest grain yield in both seasons, also the soil properties at the end of the experiments improved in terms of organic matter, total nitrogen and exchangeable cations. Hence 20 t ha-1 PM + 80 kg P2O5 ha-1 is recommended for Popcorn production in Kuru and its environs.