Dynamics of nitrogen in some soils and potted maize plants amended with sources of nitrogen fertilizers

In this study, the effects of urea, poultry manure, and slow-release nitrogen fertilizers on the release of nitrogen from certain soils were examined. Two soils from different locations (Shao and Malete) were subjected to nitrogen sources (prilled urea, granular urea, neem-coated urea, and poultry manure) at a rate of 120 kgN/ha during the incubation experiment, while the control group received no nitrogen at all. After incubation for 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks, soil samples were collected. To ascertain the NO ₃ -N and NH4 ⁺ -N, soil samples taken from the pots were examined. Similarly, a screen-house was used for two cycle experiments in which the maize plants were cultivated in pots with the same treatments set up in a completely randomized design. The incubation investigation demonstrated that whilst neem-coated urea had a little impact on nitrogen availability, the addition of granular urea and poultry dung increased nitrogen availability. The maize plants grew well in all treatments, demonstrating that the various nitrogen sources had no negative effects on plant growth. However, as compared to the plants grown with prilled urea and neem coated urea at first and residual harvest, the plants grown with urea and poultry manure had significantly growth and higher dry matter yield. The findings indicated that growing maize in soil amended with poultry manure can be a safe way to add more nitrogen while reducing the possibility of excess nitrogen leaching into the environment and can serve as a substitute for mineral fertilizer.