Response of maize to coconut husk ash application in an acid sandy-loam soil in Abakaliki, South-East Nigeria

Response of maize to coconut husk ash application was evaluated in an acid sandy loam soil under Abakaliki agroecology in South-East Nigeria. A land area measuring 0.03 ha was used for the experiment. The field was laid out using Randomized Complete Block Design with five treatments of coconut husk ash at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 t ha ¹, replicated four times. Oba Super II hybrid maize was used as the test crop. Results showed that soil texture remained sandy loam after cropping. Hydraulic conductivity of coconut husk ash amended soil except the one applied at 2 t ha⁻¹ was significantly (P<0.05) higher than control. Lower bulk density, higher total porosity and gravimetric moisture content of 11, 12 and 16%, respectively, were obtained in plots amended with coconut husk ash at 4 and 6 t ha⁻¹. Soil pH and base saturation of coconut husk ash amended soil were significantly (P<0.05) higher than control. Available P, total N, exchangeable Ca, K, Na and CEC were higher by 2, 4, 4, 3, 4 and 2% in coconut husk ash amended plots than control. Grain yields of maize in coconut husk ash amended soils were significantly (P<0.05) higher than control. Generally, the treatments could be assessed as coconut husk ash at 6 t ha⁻¹ > coconut husk ash at 8tha⁻¹> coconut husk ash at 4t ha⁻¹ >coconut husk ash at 2 t ha⁻¹ > control. It was concluded tha amendment of soil with coconut husk ash could be recommended for reducing soil acidity and higher maize production in an acid sandy loam.