Determining Selected Essential Element and Nutritional Composition of Maize Variety and Soil Fertility Status of Cultivated Land Abala Abay Woreda Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most widely cultivated cereal crops in the world. The objective of this study was determining the level of essential metal and nutritional composition of maize variety and selected soil fertility status of cultivated land of Abala Abay woreda. The three replicated samples of maize variety (Shone-19, BH540, and BH545) and soil sample were collected from three selected kebel of Abala Abay woreda. The study was conduct at slightly acidic soil, moderate SOC, low to moderate P, high CEC and optimum level of Ca, Mg, K and Na and clay loam textural class. The mean proximate composition of three varieties (BH540, BH545 and Shone-19) was 3.6±0.3% (fat), 1.8±0.1% (fiber), 13.2±1.3% (moisture), 1.14±0.1% (ash), 7.65%±0.5 (protein), 72.5±1.7 kca (carbohydrate) and 353.3 kcal±4 (energy). In current studies, the average selected macro and micro essential metal for three maize varieties ranges 38.3±3.7 mg/kg (Fe), 34.5±1.6 mg/kg (Zn), 0.5±0.03 mg/kg (Co), 3.4±0.22 mg/kg (Mn) for micro essential metal, and 588±26.9 mg/kg (Ca), 496 ±22.8 mg/kg (Mg), 799 ±26.3 mg/kg (K), and 162±4.1 mg/kg (Na) for selected macro essential metal. The level of essential metal and nutritional composition of Shone-19, BH540 and BH545 were optimum compared to standard limit of FAO at 2011. From this studied of maize varieties, Shone-19 variety was more preferable for consumption than BH540 and BH545 varieties because of better nutrition composition value and metals concentration.