Response of Sorghum to Different Organic Manure Types in Plateau State

This study evaluates the response of sorghum to application of different organic manure types in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. Declining soil fertility from continuous cultivation without adequate organic matter replenishment is a major threat to sorghum productivity in the state. Organic manures derived from cattle dung, poultry manure, and compost offer nutrient supply and soil structural improvement benefits as alternatives or complements to mineral fertilisers, but their comparative effectiveness for sorghum has not been locally calibrated. This study establishes a randomised complete block design experiment at the University of Jos research farm, comparing four treatments: no manure control, cattle dung at 5 tonnes per hectare, poultry manure at 5 tonnes per hectare, and compost at 5 tonnes per hectare, applied two weeks before planting. Sorghum variety SK5912 is used throughout. Plant height, leaf area index, panicle length, grain weight, and grain yield are measured at critical stages. Findings reveal that poultry manure application produces the highest grain yield of 3.6 tonnes per hectare, significantly above the control at 1.8 tonnes per hectare, attributable to the higher nitrogen and phosphorus content of poultry manure. Compost application shows the strongest soil structural improvement as indicated by soil bulk density measurements. Cattle dung shows intermediate performance. The study concludes that poultry manure is the most effective organic amendment for sorghum production in Plateau State. It recommends poultry manure application at 5 tonnes per hectare as a cost-effective fertility management strategy.

Keywords: sorghum, organic manure, poultry manure, soil fertility, Plateau State.