Abstract

Nwodoka F. Clement, Chukwuma C. Iyke and O. J. Camron

A Comparative study on the effect of organic manure (cow dung) and inorganic fertilizer (N.P.K) on the growth of maize (Zea Mays L.) was carried out at the University of Abuja, Biological science garden for a period of fourteen (14) weeks. A control was set up for this study. Maize plants treated with N. P.K fertilizer were significantly taller than those treated with cow dung and those of control. Mean number of leaves, stem diameter, shoot and root dry weight were higher with N.P.K fertilizer but showed no significant difference (P>0.05) from those grown with cow dung manure. Growth indices of maize plants to which fertilizer N.P.K was applied showed no significant (P>0.05) increase than the cow dung. It is recommended that cow dung manure can be used in the absence of N.P.K fertilizer considering the cost and associated environmental effect of the later