MAIZE

Ferruginous soils present challenges for plant growth due to their elevated iron levels, which can cause iron toxicity and negatively impact crop productivity. Copper nanoparticles demonstrate potential in mitigating iron toxicity in plants. This research studied maize plants polluted with different copper nanoparticle concentrations in ferruginous soils with elevated iron. The aim was to ascertain maize tolerance to various iron stress levels and its resultant yield. The results indicated improved maize growth with copper nanoparticles, significantly at 35% and 100% concentration in the early and late development phases. This infers a dose- dependent relationship between nanoparticle concentration and maize growth, with higher concentrations conveying increased maize sensitivity to excessive iron levels. The dynamic response of maize to nanoparticles over time emphasizes the need for exposure duration. In week 2, plants polluted with a 35% Cu nanoparticle concentration in soils alleviated at 4 ESV portrayed smaller leaf areas in contrast to those in 2.5 ESV soils. This infers that higher contamination may hamper the nanoparticles' positive leaf area effects. The complex impact of copper nanoparticles on maize morphology was influenced by a combination of factors including concentration, soil contamination, and specific parameters. Plant height, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, and sheath length were modified by treatment, while blocks substantially affected plant height, leaf length, and sheath length. Copper nanoparticles demonstrate the potential to improve maize resilience in ferruginous soils, presenting a viable sustainable agriculture solutions in iron-rich environments.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a staple crop critical for global food security, yet its productivity is often constrained by soil nutrient deficiencies, pest infestations, and reliance on synthetic inputs. This study evaluated the agronomic response of maize to the application of neem leaf powder, an organic amendment derived from Azadirachta indica, as a sustainable alternative for enhancing soil fertility and plant performance. The study was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated five times. The treatment comprised four rates of A. indica leaf powder (0.0, 60.0, 120.0, and 180.0 Kg ha -1). Percent emergence, Percent establishment, Days to tasseling, Plant height, Number of ears harvested and Stover yield were evaluated. The results showed that the leaf powder significantly improved maize growth. The best performance was obtained from the plots incorporated with 180kg of A. indica leaf powder. The study concludes that Azadirachta indica leaf powder, is a viable and eco-friendly organic fertilizer for maize cultivation and reducing chemical dependency