Abstract:
This study involved mixture experiment using simplex lattice design
approach in cultivation of Maize crop with
the view of optimizing the fertilizer components (dependent variables) on t
he output parameter (maize fodder
).
The
objective of this study was
to evaluate optimal sets of mixture of fertilizer components
that coul
d
maximize
the response variables of interest
.
Di
-
Ammonium P
hospha
te (DAP), Poultry manure
, Sheep manure, and
F
armyard
manure
com
ponents mixed in
vari
ous proportions in accordance with simplex lattice design were
applied in p
lanting hybrid
maize
seeds.
W
ith the application of the special cubic statistical model formulated, it
was found that farmyard manure and poultry manure produced the optimal fertilize
r condition. However, the this
study further
provided specific
optimal fertilizer blend for
ma
ize fodder production as
8.0
tons
ha
-
1
of farmyard
manure mixed with
1.212
tons
ha
-
1
of poultry manure. Under these conditions, a maximum outp
uts 42
tons ha
-
1
of maize fodder were realized.
The study concluded that the formulation of statistical model for c
rop production
could be useful for prediction and evaluation of the effects of experimental factors.
