YIELD PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMIC RETURN OF MAIZE AS AFFECTED BY NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ON FERRALSOLS IN COASTAL WESTERN AFRICA

We assessed maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield and associated economic returns of four soil fertility management strategies in a 2-yr study (four growing seasons). The Ikenne maize cultivar was used and the fertilization treatments included: no fertilizer application (control, T1), application of farmyard manure (FYM) at the rate of 6 Mg ha-1 (T2), the agricultural services recommended maize-based fertilization consisting of 200 kg N15P15K15 plus...