Effect of banana corm compost on agronomic performance, physiological activity, and yield of composite maize varieties

Maize ( Zea mays L.) is the world’s second most widely cultivated crop by harvested area, after wheat. Among its types, composite varieties are often preferred due to their broad genetic base and lower seed costs compared to hybrids. However, sustainable nutrient management for composite maize using locally available organic amendments remains underexplored. The present study evaluated the effects of utilizing banana corm waste as compost on the agronomic performance, physiological activity, and yield of two composite maize varieties. A completely randomized block design in a factorial arrangement was employed, with variety as the first factor (Lamuru and Provit A1) and compost dosage (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 t ha- 1 ) as the second factor. Parameters measured included agronomic variables, physiological activities, and yield variable. The data were subjected to analysis of variance at a significance level of α = 0.05. Provit A1 produced significantly more leaves (11.60) than Lamuru (10.83), indicating varietal differences in vegetative vigor. A significant interaction was observed for stomatal aperture. For Lamuru, maximum stomatal aperture occurred at 11.56 t ha -1 , whereas for Provit A1, it occurred at only 0.014 t ha -1 , the regression model (R 2 = 0.007) showed no meaningful response, with the mathematical turning point effectively equivalebt to no application. All other parameters, including yield components, showed no significant responses to compost application. This lack of response may be attributed to the rapid nitrogen mineralization and subsequent loss from the low C/N ratio (6.38) of the compost. Additionally, the uniform basal NPK application likely supplied adequate nutrition across all treatments, potentially masking any compost effect. These findings suggest that growth and physiological responses to organic waste compost may be variety-dependent, highlighting the need for variety-specific organic waste management strategies in sustainable maize farming.