Response of Maize (Zea mays L.) to Poultry Dung Compost on Sandy Soil in Toumodi, Central Côte d'Ivoire

The increase in maize harvests among farmers in the Toumodi locality (6°25'4.8˝N and 5°4'19.2˝w), in Côte d'Ivoire, required a study during the June cropping season in 2023. 4 increasing doses of compost: T0 (0 t/ha), T1 (10 t/ha), T2 (15 t/ha) and T3 (20 t/ha), were applied to the soil (0 - 20 cm) in a Fischer-type set-up with 4 replications. The mean values of the yield components of the various treatments were compared with each other and with those of the blank control using analyses of variance for a critical threshold, α = 0.05. Flowering was observed in male and female plants after 50 days following sowing in all the amended plots, whereas it appeared 10 to 15 days later in the plots without application. The highest grain yields were noted in the plots receiving the 15 t/ha dose, with average harvests of around 5 t/ha compared with 1.9 t/ha for the treatment without application. In addition, the 15 t/ha dose produced more seeds than the other treatments. In addition to its availability, the compost tested is rich in nutrients. An application of at least 10 t/ha is enough to increase yields, which are estimated to be almost twice as high as those in soils without compost. To this end, spreading this material on farmers' fields is highly desirable. However, the use of compost requires pre-treatment of the raw organic material, which could be a constraint on its use.