Effect of Quail Dropping and Compost on Soil Biological and Chemical Fertility, Growth and Biomass Production of Maize

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Résumé

In Burkina Faso, maize (Zea mays L.) is the second most cultivated cereal. However, yields
remain low due to the decline in soil fertility inherent to several factors. This study was carried
out in order to valorize compost and quail droppings in maize production. It was carried out in a
greenhouse vegetation vase at French Research Institute for Sustainable Development in
Ouagadougou. The methodology used was based on a randomized block agronomic trial with
04 treatments repeated 5 times. The trial consisted of comparing compost (3 t ha-1), quail
droppings (3 t ha-1) and NPK (14-23-14-3B-1S) (200 kg ha-1) with a control. The chemical and
biological parameters of the soil after harvest and the production of maize biomass were
measured. The results showed that soil amendment with compost significantly increases (P =
0.006) biomass production (125.44 ± 17.13 g) compared to NPK. Compost-treated soils
significantly (P = 0.0001) improved plant height (101.22 ± 8.34 cm) and number of ears per
plant (0.67 ± 0.14) compared with other treatments. Plant diameter was significantly (P =
0.0001) increased under quail droppings (13.67 ± 0.51 mm). The soil treated with quail
droppings improved microbial life with increased CO2 release (2715 ± 648.81 ppm) throughout
the incubation period compared with the other treatments. The quail droppings amendment
provided more soil organic carbon and nutrients that were easily mineralized and assimilated by
plants. At result, the quail droppings improve soil biological and chemical activities or the
compost increase maize biomass yield.

Mots-clés

Lixisol; compost; quail droppings; maize production; soil fertility