Growth and Yield Response of Maize (Zea mays L.) to Slow-Release Organo-Mineral Fertilizer Formulations in the Sudan Savannah of Nigeria

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the 2026 dry season at the Dryland Teaching and Research Farm of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, to evaluate the response of maize (Zea mays L.) variety Oba Super 11 to slow-release organo-mineral fertilizer (SROMF) formulations under the Sudan Savannah agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. The study was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five fertilizer treatments: (i) mineral fertilizer (NPK 20:10:10), (ii) NPK SROM fertilizer (20:10:10), (iii) NPK SROM fertilizer (15:10:10), (iv) NPK SROM fertilizer (12:6:6), and (v) a control (no fertilizer), replicated three times. Data were collected on growth and yield parameters. Results showed that fertilizer treatments significantly (p ≤ 0.05) influenced all growth and yield parameters measured. At 9 weeks after sowing (WAS), the tallest plants (181.5 cm) were recorded under NPK organo-mineral fertilizer (12:6:6), while the shorter plants (83.1 cm) were recorded in the control plot. Grain yield was highest in NPK SROM fertilizer (20:10:10), producing 6.6 t ha⁻¹, followed by the mineral fertilizer treatment (5.5 t ha⁻¹), while the control had the lowest yield (1.1 t ha⁻¹). Similarly, the highest dry matter yield (6.6 t ha⁻¹) was obtained from the NPK SROM fertilizer (20:10:10) treatment. The study concludes that slow-release organo-mineral fertilizers significantly enhanced efficient nutrient utilization and in turn improved growth and yield performance of maize under Sudan Savannah conditions, with the NPK SROM fertilizer (20:10:10) formulation showing superior grain yield performance and is therefore recommended as a sustainable nutrient management strategy for improving maize productivity while potentially reducing nutrient losses under different soil textural classes.