Influence of Urea-Fortified Rice-Processing Wastes on Soil Properties and Maize (Zea Mays [L.]) Yield Components in Makurdi Local Government Area (Lga), Benue State, Nigeria

Maize is one of the most widely distributed of the world's food plants.Organo-mineral sources of plant nutrients are suitable, economical, effective, efficient and promising soil amendments for environmentally sustainable and economically profitable cropping in the tropics, Nigeria inclusive.A field experiment was undertaken during the 2024 cropping season at Agan Settlement in Makurdi LGA of Benue State to examine the influence of urea-fortified fresh rice-processing wastes (RPWs) on soil properties and maize yield components.Each experimental plot measured 4 m x 3 m (area = 12 m 2 ).The total physical size of the experimental site (piece of land) used was 21 m x 14 m (294 m 2 ) or 0.0294 Ha, with the plant spacing of 100 cm x 30 cm.The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD).It consisted of 6 treatments (15 t/ha RPWs + 0 kg/ha Urea fertilizer [which served as the control]; 15 t/ha RPWs + 15 kg/ha Urea [N] fertilizer; 15 t/ha RPWs + 25 kg/ha Urea fertilizer; 15 t/ha RPWs + 35 kg/ha Urea fertilizer; 15 t/ha RPWs + 45 kg/ha Urea fertilizer; and 15 t/ha RPWs + 55 kg/ha Urea fertilizer) replicated thrice under the RCBD.Before their fortification with urea fertilizer and their subsequent incorporation into soils at the experimental site, the obtained fresh RPWs were analyzed in a standard laboratory for their chemical/mineralogic composition.The fresh RPWs were first weighed, after which urea fertilizer was added to them according to the pre-determined treatment levels.The urea-fortified RPWs were then incorporated about 30 cm into prepared seed beds and allowed to decompose substantially for about 4 weeks before sowing of the maize seeds.Pre-treatment/pre-cropping and post-harvest composite soil samples were collected from dug soil profile pits (0-30 cm depth) and analyzed in a standard soil laboratory to determine the soils' pre-amendment and post-harvest status of texture and chemical properties, respectively.A net plot of inner ridges for each treatment was used with 5 tagged maize plants for dry plant matter and number of seeds per cob.The grain yields of fully mature and dry cobs of 15% grain moisture for each net plot were extrapolated to yield in t/ha.The collected soil data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while ANOVA for RCBD was performed on the data collected in respect of the maize yield parameters and yield per unit area using Genstat (2005).The obtained results revealed that the soils' amendment with the urea-fortified RPWs did not alter their textural class (sandy), but significantly improved the soils' chemical properties over their pre-amendment status.The 15 t/ha RPWs + 55 kg/ha Urea treatment gave the highest soil pH (6.68), TN (0.69%) and Ca 2+ (3.99 cmol/kg) values; the 15 t/ha RPWs + 35 kg/ha Urea treatment gave the highest SOM value (2.60%); the 15 t/ha RPWs + 25 kg/ha Urea treatment gave the highest AP value (26.87 mg/kg), while the control gave the highest exchangeable Na + , K + and Mg 2+ values (0.22, 0.97 and 2.98, respectively).Similarly, the soils' amendment with the urea-fortified RPWs significantly increased maize yield components over the control.The 15 t/ha RPWs + 55 kg/ha Urea treatment gave the highest mean number of seeds per cob (423), while the 15 t/ha RPWs + 45 kg/ha Urea treatment produced the highest mean grain yield (3.17 t/ha) and dry plant matter (8.99 g/plant).Thus, it was concluded that judicious application of urea-fortified RPWs to soils had significant positive effects on soil chemical properties and, hence, on maize yield components.The 15 t/ha RPWs + 45 kg/ha Urea treatment was, therefore, recommended as being suitable, economical, effective and efficient in significantly improving soil chemical properties for the optimum yield of maize in the study area.