Effect of Fertigation and Organic Manure on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays) in the Northern Region of Ghana

Abstract

Food insecurity in Ghana is major challenge in the country, with a significant portion of the population (5%) facing the risk of inadequate access to food. Whilst there is food insecurity, agricultural productivity in the country is not increasing. Additionally, farming in Ghana especially in northern Ghana fully depends on rainfall. Also, farmers are faced with climate crisis such as drought and high temperatures which affects productivity. Alternative ways such as fertigation have been demonstrated to increase agricultural productivity in many parts of the world. However, this technique is under-utilized in Ghana. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of fertigation and organic manure on maize growth and yield production in Northern Region of Ghana. Organic manure (OM) mainly compost was incorporated in soil together with fertigation and the effects on maize plant growth parameters (i.e., plant height, number of leaves, stem girth) and yield (i.e., number of grains, number of wet and dry grains) were measured. The study found that maize plants treated with OM and fertigation application had significantly higher plant growth parameters and yield compared to maize plants that were not given OM but were manually fertilized. The results showed that the combined use of fertigation and OM application holds immense potential for enhancing maize plant growth and yield. By maximizing the growth and yield potential of maize plants through fertilization and OM application, farmers can address the growing demand for this vital crop while promoting sustainable and environmentally responsible agricultural practices.