Liquid organic fertilizers from rabbit wastes under different feeding regimes improve soil properties, growth, yield and nutrient uptake in maize
Musibau Oyeleke Azeez
, Festus Adewale Oladipupo, Francis Tope Olatoberu, Akinloye Jimoh Farinde, Waheed Olalere Oladepo
Abstract: The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of liquid organic fertilizers (LOF) from rabbit wastes under different feeding regimes on soil properties, growth, yield and nutrient uptake in maize. The study utilized urine and faeces collected from rabbits fed with two different feeding types (100% forage and 50% Concentrate + 50% Forage). Soil samples were collected before and after the field experiment. The maize growth parameters: chlorophyll index, plant height, number of leaves, stem girth, and leaf area index, were collected fortnightly, whereas dry matter weight, dry matter yield, grain yield, NPK uptake in maize plant, and selected soil properties were determined at the end of the field experiment. The results showed significant positive effects of LOF application on the maize growth parameters. Furthermore, maize grain yield and nutrient uptake were positively influenced in all the LOF treated plots and did not significantly different from NPK treated plot. For instance, though NPK had the highest grain yield of 6.58 ton.ha-1, but not significantly different from UfFfRN treated plot (urine + faeces from forage fed rabbits + banana root + Neem bark) with grain yield of 6.22 ton.ha-1. Selected soil properties such as pH, available P, exchangeable K increased in all LOF treated plots, whereas lower total N and C were recorded, which was attributed to high plant N uptake and high mineralization of organic matter occasioned by improved soil conditions due to LOF applications to soil. It was concluded that the LOF produced from rabbit wastes can serve as a good substitute to chemical fertilizers such as NPK for a viable maize production.
Keywords: forage; liquid organic fertilizer; maize; NPK; rabbit wastes
Citation: Azeez, M.O., Oladipupo, F.A., Olatoberu, F. T., Farinde, A. J., & Oladepo, W.O. (2025).
Liquid organic fertilizers from rabbit wastes under different feeding regimes improve soil properties, growth, yield and nutrient uptake in maize. Bulgarian Journal of Soil Science Agrochemisty and Ecology, 59(2), 16-31.
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| Date published: 2025-06-25
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