Evaluation of the Effect of Three Types of Fertiliser on the Agronomic Potential of a Hybrid Variety of Maize (Zea mays L.), Grown in Korhogo Commune in Côte d’Ivoire

Objective: Maize is a crop whose grains are involved in the diet of West African populations, and also in the food of the populations of the Korhogo region. However, the yield of this crop is still low in the region. The study was initiated to help increase maize production by assessing the effects of different types of mineral and organic fertilisers on maize yield. The study was conducted, for 6 months, on the experimental site of the University Peleforo Gon Coulibaly of Korhogo, located in the north of Côte d'Ivoire.

Methodology: The device used is in a Fisher block, comprising 4 treatments and 4 replicates. The 4 treatments studied included a mineral fertiliser Yara Mila Actyva, composition NPK 23-10-5 + 3S + 2MgO + 0.3 Zn, two types of organic fertiliser (organic foliar fertiliser BioDeposit Elixir or BDE and organic fertiliser Phytobiologique Aval or EPA) and the control without fertiliser.

Results and Conclusion: The results obtained showed that all production characteristics and yield were improved by the different types of fertiliser supplied. Mineral fertiliser, with an average yield of 12,373 kg ha-1, gave the highest yield. Organic fertilisers, with yields of 6,560 kg ha-1 for PBA and 9,153 kg ha-1 for BDE, significantly improved maize production compared to the control yield (5,972 kg ha-1). In a context where the high price of mineral fertilisers is very often a hindrance to the intensification of maize cultivation, this study is a contribution to fertilisation through the use of organic fertilisers and adapted to the socio-economic conditions of the region, knowing the low income of the peasants.