Effects of Fertilization Based on Chicken Manures and Mycorrhiza on Vegetative Parameters and Phenological Stages of Sorghum bicolor in Yagoua, Far-North Cameroon

Aims: Study aims to evaluate the effect of chicken manure and mycorrhiza levels as fertilizers on vegetative growth and on phenological stages of Sorghum in Far North Cameroon.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Valorization Station of Agricultural Research (PSAR) of Yagoua.

Methodology: For this study, variety S-35 of Sorghum have used. Three levels of fertilization were used to evaluate germination rates, vegetative growth and phenology of this variety. The levels of fertilizers applied were 20 g of mycorrhiza, 50 g of organic manure and 20+50g of effect combined mycorrhiza+organic manure in comparison to the check (0g). The experimental design was the randomized block design with 3 replications. After evaluation of germination rates in the farm, we had evaluated the height, diameters and precocity of plants.

Results: Uses of different levels of fertilization on germination rates were important for all the levels of fertilizers compared to the control (27. 5 %). It’s varying from 52.5 % for the chicken manure, followed by the effect of combined treatments (45 %) and bio-fertilizers with 67 %. Compared to the check, the use of chicken manure as fertilization was most significant (P<0.05) on the height of plants during the vegetative growth. The diameters of plants according to the different treatments were most significant (P<0.05) respectively by the supplies of chicken manure, the effect of both treatments (mycorrhiza+chicken manure) and mycorrhiza treatment. Theses different levels fertilization was influenced the phenological stages of plants especially first flowering of plants days after sowing. Flowering of plants at 50 % was most favorable for the treatments based on the uses chicken manure and the combined effect of treatments (mycorrhiza+chicken manure).

Conclusion: Uses of chicken manure and mycorrhiza as fertilizers on Sorghum were significant to the vegetative growth and flowering stages of plants. Levels of chicken manure had positive effect on plant height. Plants diameters were most positively affected by organic manure, mycorrhiza and the effect of both treatments during growing of plants.