Comparisons of nutrient solutions from organic and chemical fertilizer sources on herbage yield and quality of hydroponically produced maize fodder

• Published in: Journal of plant nutrition Vol. 44; no. 9; pp. 1258 - 1267
• Main Authors: Adeyemi, Temidayo Ayodeji, Adeoye, Samson Adewale, Ogunyemi, Timilehin Julius, Adedeji, Elijah Adetola, Oluyemi, Blessing, Ojo, Victoria Olubunmi Aderemi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 10.11.2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Agrochemicals; Ashes; Chemical composition; Corn; Crop yield; Digestibility; Dry matter; Fodder; Hydroponics; hydroponics maize; hydroponics nutrient solution; Livestock feed; maize fodder; Mineral fertilizers; Nutrient concentrations; Nutrient content; Nutrient solutions; Nutrient sources; organic nutrient solutions; Poultry manure; Proteins; Seeds; Water use; Water use efficiency
• ISSN: 0190-4167; 1532-4087
• DOI: 10.1080/01904167.2020.1845382

We investigated the use of four nutrient solutions (organic, organo-mineral, inorganic, and a commercial hydroponics solution that served as a control) on the yield and quality of hydroponically produced maize fodder. The organic, organo-mineral, and inorganic nutrient solutions were formulated from poultry manure, Aleshinloye organo-mineral fertilizer, and NPK 20:10:10, respectively. The nutrient solutions were used to irrigate "Swan-1" maize seeds for 16 days after which herbage yield, water use efficiency, chemical composition, and in vitro variables were determined. Formulated nutrient solutions had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on recorded fodder yield values (0.96 − 1.05 kg/tray). Water use efficiency values ranged from 0.23 to 0.26 kg DM/m 3 with no significant (p > 0.05) treatment effect. The organo-mineral nutrient solution decreased crude protein content but increased ash content in the plants. The other treatments had statistically similar (p > 0.05) crude protein and ash values with the control. Recorded crude protein and ash values were 8.88%−13.69% and 5.43%−8.25%, respectively. Plants irrigated with the organo-mineral nutrient solution had consistently higher (p < 0.05) mineral concentration values (3.68, 2.13, 63.60, 13.70, and 5.29 g/kg for Ca, P, K, Mg, and Na); although, P concentration was similar with the control. In vitro gas volumes and dry matter digestibility were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by the treatments. In conclusion, the formulated organic and organo-mineral nutrient solutions produced plants with similar yield and quality as the inorganic and standard nutrient solutions.