This study was carried out to evaluate different rates of poultry manure on soil properties and grain yield of maize in a typic haplustult at Teaching and Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki. The field was laid out in randomized complete block design with five treatments of poultry manure at 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40t ha-1 and replicated four times. Maize variety (Oba Super II) was used as a test crop. The soil properties and maize yield data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed that different rates of poultry manure had significantly (P<0.05) higher total porosity and aggregate stability than control. The plot amended with 40t ha-1 of poultry manure had 16% lower bulk density and 14, 20 and 23% higher aggregate stability, total porosity and gravimetric moisture content compared to control. Different rates of poultry manure had significantly (P<0.05) higher organic matter (OM), available P, N and pH when compared to control. Organic matter, available P, N and pH were higher by 32, 21, 42 and 41% in plot amended with 40t ha-1 poultry manure compared to control. Furthermore, the plot receiving 40t ha-1 of poultry droppings had significantly (P<0.05) higher OM, available N, P, N and pH relative to plots amended with lower rates. Generally, organic matter, available P, N, pH and exchangeable bases of Calcium, magnesium, potassium and Sodium increased in the order of 40>30>20>10>0t ha-1 in the different rates of poultry manure. Grain yield of maize was 19, 17, 11 and 7% higher in plot amended with 40t ha-1 and plots amended with 10, 20 and 30t ha-1 of poultry manure when compared to control. Rates of poultry manure are necessary for improved soil properties but for profitable grain yield of maize, higher rates are recommended.
Keywords: Evaluation, Grain Yield of Maize, Poultry Droppings, Rates, Soil Properties
