CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Maize (zea mays) is among the most important cerael crops after rice and wheat.
It is grown as edible fruit which can be eaten raw or cooked or made into powder. Maize
(Zea mays) can also be used for maize flour, semovita, masa, corn starch, corn syrup and
kitty litter. One of the three most important cereal crops in the world, Maize is high
growthing, easy to process, readily digested, and costs less than other cereals. It is also a
versatile crop, allowing it to grow across a range of agro-ecological zones. Maize as a
typical cereal responds favorably to fertilizer application, especially in the savanna,
where the soils are generally low in fertility. Maize has a strong exhausting effect on the
soil and it is generally observed that maize fails to produce good grain growth in plots
without fertilizer application (Kumar, 1993). In most experiments, maize response to N is
very significant. Under continuous cropping, fertilizer N is the most important nutrient
for maize production. Savanna soils are also deficient in native P (Bache and Rogers,
1970). It is one of the important cereal crops grown in Nigeria, stretching from the coast
to the savanna. The production of maize in the Nigerian savanna has since been
transformed from that of a minor crop status to a major commercial grain crop competing
with sorghum and millet crops in the grain economy of the nation (Elemo, 1993).
Maize is used for three main purposes; animal feed, food and in industry as raw
materials for production and brewing. It has become the most important raw material for
animal feed and several industrial processes due to its low price and widespread
distribution. Seventy percent (70%) of maize produced worldwide is used for livestock
feed (Onimisi et al., 2009). It is a major food for both Nigerian urban and rural dwellers
and forms part of the everyday diet. Of an estimated 5 million small scale farming
households in Nigeria, more than 1 million (20%) derive their main income from
production of maize.

Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium fertilizer are primary nutrient in the soil because of
their acute deficiencies in most light-textured soil and their application in the soil from the basis
of applying the secondary and the trace nutrients in the soil. However, the native soil fertility of
most tropical soils is low owing to the increased frequency of cultivation of land as demand for
food increases, unsustainable nature of the bush fallow practices of naturally restoring the
fertility status of the soil due to reduced fallow period occasioned by high population pressure
and other human activities (Steiner, 1991), coupled with erosion, volatilization and
immobilization.

Factorial design is adopted for this project because it is widely used in experiment
involving several factors where it is necessary to study the joint effect of the factor on the
response. It is important because it is used in research work and also because they formed the
basis of other design.

Suitable conditions for maize growth and development

Maize is a tropical grass that is well adapted to a wide range of climates (Belfield &

Brown, 2008). The optimum air temperature for maize growth and development is 18 to 32°C,

with temperatures of 35°C and above considered inhibitory. Optimum soil temperatures for

germination and early seedling growth are 12°C or greater and 21 to 30°C at tasselling. The crop

can grow and growth with as little as 300 mm rainfall (40 to 60% growth decline compared to

optimal conditions), but prefers 500 to 1200 mm as the optimal range. Maize has reasonable

tolerance of waterlogging, however, this tolerance is lowest at the tasselling stage (Belfield &

Brown, 2008) and higher when the growing point is below the ground, especially when

combined with high temperatures. The crop is relatively well adapted to a wide range of soils

with pH (H2O) 5.5 to 7.8 and outside this range, availability of nutrients to maize plants can be

strongly affected causing a reduction in plant growth (Lafitte, 1994). For example, moderately

acidic soils would be likely to reduce P and Mo availability and possibly may also affect K and

Mg availability (English & Cahill 2005). Maize is moderately sensitive to salinity which reduces

uptake of nutrients and decreases total dry matter production (Ayad et al., 2010).

Locally maize is planted during late spring/early summer with optimal planting times

between November and December and harvested from late May up to the end of August, though

planting can start as early as October and extend to January in some areas. In a particular season,

the rainfall pattern and other weather conditions determine the planting period as well as the

length of the production season (Girardin, 1998). Each maize hybrid has an optimum planting
date and the greater the deviation from this optimum (early or late planting), the greater the

growth loss (Liu et al., 2006).

Factors affecting maize growth and development

Growth is described as the progressive development of an organism and usually

expressed in terms of weight, height, length, diameter etc. (Tisdale et al., 1990). Sustainable crop

growth and development in agro-ecosystems derive from the proper balance of crops, soils,

nutrients, radiant energy, water and coexisting organisms (Hopmans, 2007). Therefore, the agro-

ecosystem is productive and healthy when this balance of rich growing conditions prevail, and

when crop plants remain resilient to tolerate stress and adversity. Such factors that affect plant

growth and development can be classified as genetic or environmental.

Role of N, P and K in plant growth

Nitrogen is an essential component of all enzymes and therefore necessary for plant growth

and development. It constitutes about one-sixth of the mass of proteins and is a basic element of

nucleic acids (Bänzinger et al., 2000). This element in crops promotes rapid growth, increases

leaf size and quality and accelerates crop maturity. Nitrogen plays a role in approximately all

plant metabolic processes. For example, N is an integral part of chlorophyll manufactured

through photosynthesis. It is also used by microbes to break down organic matter.

Normal plant growth cannot be achieved without phosphorus (Bänzinger et al., 2000). It is a

constituent of nucleic acids, phospholipids, the coenzymes DNA and NADP, and particularly

ATP. The element is involved in many other metabolic processes required for normal growth

such as photosynthesis, glycolysis, respiration and fatty acid synthesis. Phosphorus enhances

seed germination and early growth, hastens maturity and provides winter hardiness to crops.

Earlier studies indicated that P application enhance crops to reach 50% tasselling and to silk

earlier (Chapman & Carter, 1976).

Potassium is essential for photosynthesis. The element activates enzymes to metabolise

carbohydrates for the manufacturing of amino acids and proteins. It facilitates also cell division
and growth by helping to move starch and sugars between plant parts. Potassium enhances stalk

and stem stiffness, increases disease resistance and drought tolerance, regulate opening and

closing of stomates and also regulate many other metabolic processes required for growth

(Tucker, 1999; Imas & Magen, 2000).

FACTORIAL EXPERIMENT

A factorial experiment is an investigation where combinations of several factors are

simultaneously investigated. Many experiments involve the study of the effect of two or more
factors. In general, Factorial design is most efficient for many types of experiment. By a factorial
design, we mean that in each complete trial or replication of the experiments all possible
combinations of the levels of the factors are investigated e.g. if there are (a) levels of factors A
and (b) levels of factors B then each replicate contains all ab treatments combination when
factors are arranged in a factorial design.

The term “FACTOR” is used here to indicate any feature that is under the control of the
experimenter and can be varied at will from trial to trial. Factors of this kind should be
distinguished from classification factors which are used to increase the precision of the
experiment by stratifying the experimental units into relatively homogenous groups. Then the
effect of a factor is defined to be the change in response produced by a change in the level of
factor.

Advantages of Factorial Experiment

1. Factors are investigated simultaneously. Thus, saves time and resources compare to
separate investigation i.e. single factor experiment.
2. Factorial experiment allows investigation of interaction which is impossible in a single
factor experiment.
3. Levels of a factor are implicit replication of the levels of other factors. Therefore, the
overall scope and precision of the experiment is enhanced.
4. It helps to show the interactions between the effects of factors.

Disadvantages of Factorial Experiment

1. Large number of levels may cause astronomical increase in treatment effects.

2. Interactions are essential element in factorial experiments. Higher order interactions
however, pose problem of interpretation.
 3. Confounding and fractional replication becomes inapplicable when treatment
combination and factors are very large.

1.1 AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this research work is to know the effect of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium
(NPK) fertilizer on the of maize.

The objectives of this research work are:

1. To determine which of the fertilizer contribute most to the growth of maize.

2. To obtain the response surface regression model.
3. To determine the optimum level of NPK fertilizer on the growth of maize.
4. To investigate the effect of the interactions of the factor level this may give the best
growth of maize.

1.3. Statement of the general problem

The decline of agricultural output which has made Nigeria to turn from a major
agricultural exporter to a country that imports agricultural goods has prompted this
research with a view to boosting our agricultural products by monitoring the effect of the
NPK fertilizer on the growth of maize.
Nigerian farmers especially the rural ones have always encountered problems on the best
quantity and combination of these fertilizers that would increase their maize growth, the
need to advice these teeming farmers has prompted us into this research.

 1.4. Significance of the study

 The findings from this study seeks to educate the rural farmers on the best combination
and quantity of the NPK fertilizer to be used so as to achieved increase in their
agricultural output and at the same time avoid over application of this fertilizer thereby
minimizing cost.

1.2 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This project is an experimental design where the effect of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium
(NPK) fertilizers are being studied on the field of maize at different level.

METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION

The data used in this project is a secondary data from Federal University of
Agriculture Abeokuta Ogun State

1.3 LIMITATION OF THE DATA

The data used is a secondary data obtained from the record of statistics unit of Federal
University of Agriculture restrict me from knowing the purpose for which the experiment was
performed.

This data cannot be used to generalize for the whole country (Nigeria) since the
experiment was performed in Abeokuta , western part of the country.

1.5 DEFINITION OF TERMS IN EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

i. TREATMENT: This is the entity under study in the main experiment.

ii. REPLICATE: This is the number of times a treatment appears in an experiment.

iii. EXPERIMENTAL UNIT: This is the smallest division of experimental material to which a
treatment is applied and in which the observation is made.

iv. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS: This is a group of material in which a treatment is

applied in a single trial of an experiment.

v. EXPERIMENTAL ERROR: This is the measure of a variation which exist among

observation on the experimental units that are treated.

vi. FACTORS: This is the possible cause of variation.

vii. BLOCK: This is the partition of experimental unit into homogenous groups.

viii. GROWTH: This is the response obtained from the experimental unit after the application
of treatment.

ix. PLOT: This is the experimental unit that is known to be the smallest unit of experimental
material.
x. RANDOMIZATION: It is the process that ensures that ensures that each observation has
equal chance of being selected.

xi. MODEL: It is the true representation of reality.

xii. DEGREE OF FREEDOM: This is the number of values which could be assigned
arbitrarily which we ascertain the truth through the analysis.

xiii. HYPOTHESIS: This is an assumption made about the population parameter of which we
ascertain the truth through the analysis.

xiv. EFFECT: It is a contrast of the combinations of several categories of factors

xv. SIMPLE EFFECT: This is a contrast within the level of a given factor when other factors
are fixed at some specification.

xvi. MAIN EFFECT: It is the arithmetic mean of simple effect of a given factor over the levels
of other factors.

xvii. INTERACTION EFFECT: It is the average difference in the performance of an effect

over the level of factor.

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

Experimental design deals with statistical planning and the analysis of experiment to
investigate the effect of some factors on the response of selected experimental materials.

Obigbesan G.O and Agboola A.A(1978); In their studies, they investigated based on
the respective amounts of nutrient absorption from the soil by maize during growth, Nitrogen
and Potassium are the critical nutrient elements. For instance, maize growth of 29 t/ha is reported
to have removed 133, 10 and 85 kg/ha of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium from the soil.
Similarly, Okigbo (1980) reported that an average growth of 11 t/ha removed 36 kg Nitrogen,
3.06 kg Potassium and 0.7 kg Calcium/ha. At the peak period of nutrient supply, nutrient content
of D. rotundata lamina was found to be 3.20-3.45%Nitrogen, 0.28-0.30% Phosphorus, 2.20-
2.50% Potassium, 0.45-0.70% Calcium and 0.27-0.37% Magnesium.

Martin F.W (1979); he reported that application of fertilizer could influence the starch
content of the grains. Different cultivars of maize gave varied responses to manure treatments
and postharvest behavior. Generally, grains from no manure treatment appear to show reduced
rotting compared to those treated with organic manure or Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium
fertilizer.

According to Okpon S.N and AduayiE.A(1988); they studied the application of 80kg
Nitrogen/ha irrespective of source (Urea, sulphate of Ammonia and Calcium Ammonium
Nitrate) increased starch, glucose and Nitrogen contents of maize grains but decreased Potassium
content.

Murwira H.K and Kurchman H (1993);in their studies, they reported that fertilization
did not necessarily influence number of grains per plant but use of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and
potassium was observed to significantly influence the growth of primary vines and number of
secondary vines. The widest leaf was observed with the use of inorganic fertilizer thus indicating
that the ratio of release was fast compared to organic fertilizer, and may be responsible for the
same treatment having the highest number of leaves.

Adeniji M.O(1998);in his studies, reported that the study at IITA shows that supplying
Nitrogen alone alters the taste of maize and, above all, its texture, but that balanced fertilization
(NPK-Mg) has no negative effects.

Alam M.Z et al. (2004);they reported that under continuous cropping, the native nutrient
content of the soil is usually supplemented with inorganic NPK fertilizer if the crop planted is to
do well.

Ibeawuchi G.O et al. (2006); they reported that the response of maize to nutrient is
almost universal. In spite of considerable increase in fertilizer use, multiple nutrient deficiencies
particularly that of NPK is on the increase in Nigerian Agriculture and is posing problem to
sustained maize productivity.

Ige D.W et al.(2005) and Law- Ogbomo K.E (2007); they reported that chemical
fertilizer (NPK) application increased maize grains growth. However, the lack of knowledge and
poor information dissemination of research results had constrained fertilizer usage among rural
farmers. The importance of fertilizer in yam production has not been adequately extended to
farmers.
Law-Ogbomo K.E and Remison S.U (2007); in their studies, they reported that Nitrogen,
Phosphorus and Potassium are primary nutrient in the soil because of their acute deficiencies in
most light-textured soil and their application in the soil from the basis of applying the secondary
and the trace nutrients in the soil. However, the native soil fertility of most tropical soils is low
owing to the increased frequency of cultivation of land as demand for food increases,
unsustainable nature of the bush fallow practices of naturally restoring the fertility status of the
soil due to reduced fallow period occasioned by high population pressure and other human
activities (Steiner, 1991), coupled with erosion, volatilization and immobilization.

Akanbi W.B et al. (2007); they reported that farmers are skeptical about the use of
inorganic fertilizers because they believe that it affects the nutritional quality of the crop and the
rising costs of inorganic fertilizers make it unaffordable by the resource poor small-scale farmer.

Eze S.C and Orkwor G.C (2010); in their studies, they reported that the effects of
either NPK fertilizer or organic manure on weight loss, sprouting and rotting of grains in storage
was partly dependent on cultivar and perhaps soil fertility status.

FAOSTAT(2013); they reported that though the grains growths of the unfertilized plants
were lower than that of the fertilized plants, it was however, higher than the average grains
growth in Nigeria (12.656 t ha-1).
CHAPTER THREE

3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Factorial design is adopted in this project because it permits the experimenter to evaluate effect
of two or more factors as well as interactions effect between factors which are studied at three
level with replicate.

3.1 REASONS FOR CHOOSING FACTORIAL DESIGN

1. Factorial design allows the effects of a factor to be studied at several levels.

2. It allows investigation of interaction effect among factors in the experiment.
3. Factorial experiment allows estimation of experimental error by replication which is a
very reliable way of assessing experimental error.
4. It can also be used when there are more than two levels of each factor.

3.2 MODEL OF THE ADOPTED DESIGN

The model for factorial experiment depends on the number of factors to be investigated in the
experiment since the factorial design does not have a unique or special model. Since there are
three factors (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and potassium) are to be investigated on Maize, then the
model for the design adopted is stated below:

y ijkl =¿µ+ τ i+ β j+ ( τβ ) ij+ Ɣ k + ( τ Ɣ ) ik + ( β Ɣ ) jk+ ( τβ Ɣ ) ijk+ ε ijkl

Where

i=1 , 2 ,… , a
j=1 ,2 , … , b

k =1 ,2 , … , c

l=1 , 2 , … ,n

y ijkl is the observation recorded for the ithlevel of factor N, the jth level of factor P and kth level of
factor K.

µ is the overall mean effect.

τ i is the effect of the ithlevel of factor N.

β j is the effect of the jth level of factor P.

( τβ ) ij is the interaction effect between levels of the factors N and P.

Ɣ k is the effect of kth level of factor K.

( τ Ɣ ) ik is the interaction effect between levels of factors N and K.

( β Ɣ ) jk is the interaction between levels of factors P and K.

( τβ Ɣ ) ijk is the interaction effect between levels of factors N, P, and K

ε ijkl is the random error.

n is the number of replicate.

3.3 BASIC ASSUMPTION

The use of analysis of variance requires that certain assumption regarding the nature of the data
under consideration must be satisfied.

1. NORMALITY ASSUMPTION

The observation in the experiments are assumed to be normally and independently distributed
because there is a linear relationship between y ijkland ε ijkl i.e.

y ijkl NID ¿µ+ τ i+ β j+ ( τβ ) ij+ Ɣ k + ( τ Ɣ ) ik + ( β Ɣ ) jk+ ( τβ Ɣ ) ijk+ ε ijkl ,σ 2 ¿

ε ijkl NID ( 0 , σ 2 )

This assumption applies particularly to test the significance but not to estimate the component of
variance.

2. ADDITIVELY EFFECTS
 This assumption claims that effects behave in additive manner, i.e. treatment effects are
additive. It is mathematically denoted by:

a b c

∑ τ i=¿ ∑ β j =∑ Ɣ k =0¿
i=1 j=1 k=1

a b c

∑ ( τβ ) ij=¿ ∑ ( τ Ɣ ) ik=∑ ( β Ɣ ) jk=0 ¿

i j k

abc

∑ ( τβ Ɣ ) ijk =¿ 0 ¿
ijk=1

3. HOMOGENEITY EFFECTS

This assumption also states that sample are drawn from population where variance is equal
i.e. the samples used in the experiment are homogenous. The blocking of the observation is
to ensure homogeneity of sample allocated to each experiment treatment in the experiment
are equal.

4. INDEPENDENCE OF OBSERVATION
This means that the observations are statistically independent. In essence, the errors are
uncorrelated.

3.4ESTIMATION OF EFFECT

Main effect: This is the effect of factor of interest in factorial experiment in this project. The
main effects are the effect of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium (NPK) fertilizers.

INTERACTION EFFECT: This is the effect due to joint action of two or more factors in the
same experiment. The interactions in this project are( τβ ) ij , ( τ Ɣ ) ik , ( β Ɣ ) jk∧ ( τβ Ɣ ) ijk .

The estimation of the effects is:

^μ= y ....

τ^ i= y i...− y ....

β j = y .j.. − y ....

Ɣ k = y ..k.− y ....

( τβ ) ij= y ij..− y i…− y .j..+ y ….

( τ Ɣ ) ik = y i.k.− y i…− y .k..+ y ….

( β Ɣ ) jk = y .jk.− y . j..− y ..k.+ y ….

( τβ Ɣ ) ijk = y ijk. − y ij..− y .jk.− y i.k.+ y i…+ y .j..+ y ..k.− y ....

3.5 SUM OF SQUARE

abcn
y2 … .
SST =∑ y 2ijkl−
ijkl abcn

2
y ….
Where = Correction Factor(CF)
abcn
a

∑ y 2i …
y2 … .
SSN= i=1 −
bcn abcn
b

∑ y 2. j ..
y2 … .
SSP= j=1 −
acn abcn
c

∑ y 2.. k .
y2 … .
SSK= k=1 −
abn abcn
ab a b

∑ y 2ij.. ∑ y 2i … ∑ y 2. j ..
y2 … .
SSNP= ij=1 − i=1 − j=1 −
cn bcn acn abcn
ac a c

∑ y i .k . ∑ y i … ∑ y 2.. k .
2 2

y2 … .
SSNK = ik =1 − i=1 − k=1 −
bn bcn abn abcn

bc b c

∑ y 2
. jk . ∑ y . j.. ∑ y 2.. k .
2

y2 … .
jk =1 j=1 k=1
SSPK = − − −
an acn abn abcn

SSE= SST-SSN-SSP-SSNP-SSK-SSNK-SSPK-SSN

3.6 HYPOTHESIS TO BE TESTED

H 01: τ i=0 ∀ i i.e. the effect of factor N is not significant

H 11: τ i≠0 for some i i.e. the effect of factor N is significant

H 02: β j =0 ∀ j i.e. the effect of factor P is not significant

H 12: β j ≠0 ∀ j i.e. the effect of P is significant

H 03:( τβ ) ij=0 ∀ Ij, I and j i.e. interaction effect of factor N and P is not significant

H 13: ( τβ ) ij≠0 ∀ ij, for some i and j, i.e. interaction effect of factor N and P is significant

H 04 : Ɣ k =0 ∀ k i.e. effect of factor K is not significant

H 14 : Ɣ k ≠0 ∀ k i.e. effect of factor K is significant

H 05:( τƔ ) ik =0 ∀ ik i.e. Interaction effect of factor N and K is not significant

H 15: ( τƔ ) ik ≠0 ∀ ik for some i and k i.e. interaction effect of factor N and K is significant
H 06 :( βƔ ) jk =0 ∀ jk i.e. interaction effect of the factor P and K is not significant
H 16:( βƔ ) jk ≠0 ∀ jk for some j and k i.e. interaction effect of factor P and K is significant
H 07 :( τβƔ ) ijk =0 ∀ ijk i.e. interaction effect of the factor N, P and K is not significant
H 17: ( τβƔ ) ijk ≠0 ∀ ijk for some i, j and k i.e. interaction effect of factor N, P and K is
significant.
F – RATIO
FN = MSN/MSE F ∝, (a-1), abc (n-1)
FP = MSP/MSE F ∝, (b-1), abc (n-1)
FNP =MSNP/MSE F ∝(a-1) (b-1), abc (n-1)
FK =MSK/MSE F ∝(c-1), abc (n-1)
FNK = MSNK/MSE F ∝(a-1) (c-1), abc (n-1)
FPK = MSPK/MSE F ∝(b-1) (c-1), abc (n-1)
FNPK = MSNPK/MSE F ∝(a-1) (b-1) (c-1), abc (n-1)

DECISION RULE FOR THE HYPOTHESIS

Reject H 01 if FN > F ∝(a-1), abc (n-1), otherwise do not reject

Reject H 02 if FP > F ∝(b-1), abc (n-1), otherwise do not reject

Reject H 03 if FNP > F ∝(a-1) (b-1), abc (n-1), otherwise do not reject

Reject H 04 if FK > F ∝(c-1), abc (n-1), otherwise do not reject

Reject H 05 if FNK > F ∝(a-1) (c-1), abc (n-1), otherwise do not reject
 Reject H 06 if FPK > F ∝(b-1) (c-1), abc (n-1), otherwise do not reject

Reject H 07 if FNPK > F ∝(a-1) (b-1) (c-1), abc (n-1), otherwise do not reject

3.7ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE

An analysis of variance is a statistical process of partitioning the total variation of a set of

data into meaningful component that measure different variation from different sources.

ANOVA TABLE FOR THE DESIGN

Source of Degree of Sum of squares Mean square f-ratio

variation freedom error

N a-1 SSN MSN

P b-1 SSP MSP

NP (a-1)(b-1) SSNP MSNP

K (c-1) SSK MSK

NK (a-1)(c-1) SSNK MSNK

PK (b-1)(c-1) SSPK MSPK

NPK (a-1)(b-1)(c-1) SSNPK MSNPK

ERROR abc (n-1) SSE MSE

TOTAL abcn-1 SST

EXPECTED RESULTS

In any statistical project, there must be the expected results, which are to be tested if true or false.

The following are the expected result:

I. Expectation on effect of factor N:

It is expected that the effect of Nitrogen(N), should be significant to the growth of Maize.

II. Expectation on effect of factor P:

There is likely to be significant effect of phosphorus(P) on the growth of Maize.

III. Expectation on effect of factor K:

There is likely to be significant effect of Potassium (K) on the growth of Maize.

IV. Expectation on effect of factor N and P:

The interaction effect of Nitrogen and phosphorus is expected to be significant to the Maize.

V. Expectation on effect of factor N and K:

The interaction effect of Nitrogen and Potassium is expected to be significant to the Maize.

VI. Expectation on effect of factor P and K:

There is likely to be significant effect of Phosphorus and Potassium (K) on the growth of Maize.

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

This chapter seeks to present and analyze data (secondary) collected by the researcher from the
federal university of agriculture, Ogun state. To test for the effect of NPK fertilizer on the growth
of maize. They were Analyze using inferential statistics in difference and association include; T-
test, F-test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of significance.
 Decision Rule for T-test and F-test

if the probability value ( p-value) is less than α, then the H0 will be rejected and the test analysis
will be significant but if otherwise vice versa.

Important keys:

N0, 60,120 Nitrogen P0, 60,120 - Phosphorus K0, 60,120 – Potassium

Df =Degree of Freedom Sig. or P-value

Factorial Design Of Maize

This part of the research work deals with test of the effect of fertilizers (Nitrogen, Phosphorus,
and potassium) on the growth of maize in addition with the hypothesis testing.

Coefficients Summary

Residuals:

Min 1Q Median 3Q Max

-9.7733 -0.2612 0.0108 0.3075 13.7733

Estimate Std. Error t value Pr(>|t|) Test

(Intercept) 16.5667 1.1493 14.415 < 2e-16 *** significant

N60 38.1517 1.6253 23.473 < 2e-16 *** significant

 N120 72.9667 1.6253 44.893 < 2e-16 *** significant

P60 -6.4033 1.6253 ` -3.940 0.00013 *** significant

P120 -16.1483 1.6253 -9.935 < 2e-16 *** significant

K60 -4.1233 1.6253 -2.537 0.01232 * significant

K120 -5.0850 1.6253 -3.129 0.00215 ** significant

N60:P60 -34.6483 2.2986 -15.074 < 2e-16 *** significant

N120:P60 -67.3300 2.2986 -29.292 < 2e-16 *** significant

N60:P120 -37.2000 2.2986 -16.184 < 2e-16 *** Significant

N120:P120 -71.4017 2.2986 -31.063 < 2e-16 *** significant

N60:K60 -0.2750 2.2986 -0.120 0.90495 Not significant

N120:K60 -4.8567 2.2986 -2.113 0.03645 * significant

N60:K120 -10.0967 2.2986 -4.393 2.25e-05 *** significant

N120:K120 -27.0117 2.2986 -11.751 < 2e-16 *** significant

P60:K60 2.7767 2.2986 1.208 0.22916 Not significant

P120:K60 4.0717 2.2986 1.771 0.07875 . significant

P60:K120 1.8300 2.2986 0.796 0.42735 Not significant

P120:K120 4.9417 2.2986 2.150 0.03335 * significant

N60:P60:K60 0.5533 3.2507 0.170 0.86509 Not significant

N120:P60:K60 4.5983 3.2507 1.415 0.15950 Not significant

N60:P120:K60 0.1967 3.2507 0.060 0.95185 Not significant

 N120:P120:K60 4.5550 3.2507 1.401 0.16344 Not significant

N60:P60:K120 9.2550 3.2507 2.847 0.00510 ** significant

N120:P60:K120 26.2300 3.2507 8.069 3.43e-13 *** significant

N60:P120:K120 9.9550 3.2507 3.062 0.00265 ** significant

N120:P120:K120 26.9167 3.2507 8.280 1.06e-13 *** significant

---

Signif. codes: 0 ‘***’ 0.001 ‘**’ 0.01 ‘*’ 0.05 ‘.’ 0.1 ‘ ’ 1

Residual standard error: 2.815 on 135 degrees of freedom

Multiple R-squared: 0.9893, Adjusted R-squared: 0.9872

F-statistic: 479.6 on 26 and 135 DF, p-value: < 2.2e-16

TEST OF SIGNIFICANCE

From the analysis above the p-value for each of the fertilizers ; Nitrogen Phosphorus and

Potassium N0, P60, K120 has significant effect on the growth of maize. Also for the interaction

between Nitrogen vs Phosphorus N60:P60, Nitrogen vs Phosphorus N120:P60 , Nitrogen vs

PotassiumN60:K120 are very significant to the yield of maize varieties. Likewise for the interaction

of the three fertilizers have significant effect on the growth of maize verities.
 And also the min value of the residual is -9.7733, the first quartile of the residual is -

0.2612, third quartile of the residual is 0.3075, while the maximum value of the residual is

13.7733

From the above output we can see that the p-value was obtained to be p-value=2.2e-16.

Now that Residual standard error is given to be 2.815 on 135 degrees of freedom, this model

yields multiple R-square measures to Be 0.9893.

TABLE 4.2 ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE (ANOVA)

Response: y

Df Sum Sq Mean of sq F value Pr(>F)

N 2 14386 7193.2 907.632 < 2.2e-16 ***

P 2 59167 29583.7 3732.822 < 2.2e-16 ***

K 2 1429 714.5 90.158 < 2.2e-16 ***

N:P 4 21019 5254.8 663.046 < 2.2e-16 ***

N:K 4 444 111.0 14.009 1.381e-09 ***

P:K 4 1547 386.8 48.807 < 2.2e-16 ***

N:P:K 8 826 103.3 13.034 8.187e-14 ***

Residuals 135 1070 7.9

---

Residual Standard Error = 2.815188

Signif. codes: 0 ‘***’ 0.001 ‘**’ 0.01 ‘*’ 0.05 ‘.’ 0.1 ‘ ’ 1

STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS

H0 : N = 0 There is no significant effect on the mean nitrate.

H1 : N ≠ 0 There is significant effect on the mean nitrate.

H0 : P= 0 There is no significant effect on the mean Phosphorus.

H1 : P≠ 0 There is significant effect on the mean Phosphorus.

H0 : K = 0 There is no significant effect on the mean potassium.

H1 : K≠ 0 There is significant effect on the mean potassium.

H0 : (N:P) = 0 There is no significant effect of the interaction between nitrate and Phosphorus
on the mean effect N:P.

H1 : (N:P)≠ 0 There is significant effect of the interaction between nitrate and Phosphorus on the
mean effect N:P

H0: (NK) = There is no significant effect of the interaction between nitrate and potassium on the
mean effect N:K.

H1: (NK) ≠ There is significant effect of the interaction between nitrate and potassium on the
mean effect N:K.

H0 : (PK)= There is no significant effect of the interaction between Phosphorus and potassium on
the mean effect P:K.
H1 : (PK) ≠ There is significant effect of the interaction between Phosphorus and potassium on
the mean effect P:K.

H0 : (NKP)= There is no significant effect of the interaction between nitrate, Phosphorus and
potassium on the mean effect NPK.

H1 : (NKP)= There is no significant effect of the interaction between nitrate, Phosphorus and
potassium on the mean effect NPK.

DECISION RULE

Reject H0 if and only if p-value < α, otherwise do not reject, since The p-value for N = 2.2e-16,
P = 2.2e-16, K = 2.2e-16 < α at 0.0005 then we reject the H0.

CONCLUSION

Since The p-value for fertilizer N, P AND K =2.2e-16 < α at 0.0005 therefore, we conclude that
there is a great significant effect of nitrogen, potassium and Phosphorus on the growth of verities
of maize.

DECISION RULE II

Reject H0 if and only if p-value < α, otherwise do not reject, since The p-value for fertilizer N:P
= 2.2e-16 *** and P:K =2.2e-16 *** < α at 0.0005, therefore we reject the H0.

CONCLUSION

Since The p-value for interaction between Fertilizer N:P and P:K = 2e-16 < 0.0005, we therefore
conclude that, there is a great significant effect of Fertilizer nitrogen vs Phosphorus and
Phosphorus vs potassium and on the growth of verities of maize than the interaction of nitrogen
vs potassium.

DECISION RULE III

Reject H0 if and only if p-value < α, otherwise do not reject, since The p-value for the interaction
between fertilizer N:P:K = 2e-16 < o.0005, therefore we reject H0.

CONCLUSION

Since The p-value for the interaction between fertilizer nitrogen, Phosphorus and potassium
N:P:K = 2e-16 < o.0005, we therefore conclude that, there is a great significant effect of the
interaction Between the fertilizer N:P:K on the growth of maize verities.
 POST HOC ANALYSIS FOR THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF MAIZE USING
TUKEY FOR COMPARISONS OF MEANS AT 95% FAMILY-WISE CONFIDENCE
LEVEL

Table 4.3

For nitrogen Mean difference (i-) lwr upr p adj

N(i) N(j)

a-b -12.96278*** -18.735875 -7.18968 0.0000011

c-b 10.05944*** 4.286347 15.83254 0.0001786

c-a 23.02222*** 17.249125 28.79532 0.0000000

For Phosphorus

P(i) P(j)

a-b 2.450741 -3.322357 8.223838 0.5750869

c-b -4.706852 -10.479949 1.066246 0.1338772

c-a -7.157593* -12.930690 -1.384495 0.0107071

For potassium
 K(i) K(j)

a-b 34.34537** 28.57227 40.118468 0.0000000

c-b -10.37426** -16.14736 -4.601162 0.0001075

c-a -44.71963** -50.49273 -38.946532 0.0000000

This indicate that the p-value for the difference in a-b, c-b, and c-a are highly significant at
0.0005 level of significant when nitrogen was applied. Then, that of the p-value in c-a is slightly
significant at 0.01 level of significant than that of a-b and c-b which are not significant when
phosphorus was applied to the three different verities. While the p-value for the difference in a-b,
c-b and c-a has a great significant when potassium was applied to the three different verities of
maize. The results above implies that there is significance difference on the mean growth of
maize.

GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF POST HOC ANALYSIS

 95% family-wise confidence level
95% family-wise confidence level

2-1

2-1
3-1

3-1
3-2

3-2
-4 -2 0 2 -4 -2 0 2 4

Differences in mean levels of N Differences in mean levels of P

95% family-wise confidence level

2-1
3-1
3-2

-4 -2 0 2

Differences in mean levels of K

THE INTERACTON PLOT OF OF NPK

Scale-Location
Normal Q-Q
54
6

54
2.0

50 49
4
S ta nd a rd ize d re sid ua ls

Standardized residuals
1.5

2
1.0

0
0.5

-2
0.0

50 49
-4

0 20 40 60 80 -2 -1 0 1 2

Fitted values Theoretical Quantiles

aov(y ~ N * P * K) aov(y ~ N * P * K)
 Constant Leverage:
Residuals vs Factor Levels Residuals vs Fitted
6

15
54 54

10
4
Standardized residuals

5
Residuals

0
0

-5
-2

-10
49 50 50 49
-4

N:
0 1 2 0 20 40 60 80

Factor Level Combinations Fitted values

s aov(y ~ N * P * K)

RESPONSE SURFACE METHOD

This section deals with the optimization of response surface that is influenced by various
process factor levels of the three fertilizer ; Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NKP) on the
growth of maize . This Analysis was done by R-Software version (3.4.2) using coded units
through Estimated Regression coefficients for the growth of maize verities.

Table 4.4 MODEL PARAMETER’S COEFFICIENTS:

Estimate Std. Error t-value Pr(>|t|)

(Intercept) 12.5983 1.1493 10.962 < 2e-16 ***

N = Q(0) -3.7817 1.6253 -2.327 0.021471 *

P = Q(1) 37.7217 1.6253 23.208 < 2e-16 ***

K = Q(2) -3.0283 1.6253 -1.863 0.064609 .

N:P = Q(3) -34.0950 2.2986 -14.833 < 2e-16 ***

N:K = Q(4) 1.1200 2.2986 0.487 0.626868

P:K = Q(5) -7.7550 2.2986 -3.374 0.000968 ***

P:K = Q(6) 2.8733 2.2986 1.250 0.213447

N:P:K= Q(7) 4.0450 3.2507 1.244 0.215528

Residual standard error = 2.815 on 135 degrees of freedom

Multiple R-squared = 0.9893

Adjusted R-squared = 0.9872

F-statistic = 479.6 on 26 and 135 DF,

p-value = < 2.2e-16.

The regression equation for the linear and interaction between the factors using the coded unit
from table 4.4 is given thus;

Y = 12.5983 -3.7817*N +37.721*7P + -3.0283*K + -34.0950*NP + 1.1200*NK + -7.7550*PK

+ 4.0450*NKP.

The Goodness of fit was determine by the Adjusted R-squared = 0.9872, with a great
significant test value of p-value = < 2.2e-16 , This indicates that the decrement level of maize
verities was given to be of great significant at 5% level of significance.

RESPONSE SURFACE REGRESSION: Explore the relationship between several explanatory

variables and one or more response variables.

Table 4.4: Response surface regression: maize verities versus NPK fertilizer.

Maize Verities: Is The Dependent Variable.

Least square method was explored.

VERITIES OF MAIZE = Q(0) + Q(1) *N + Q(2)*P + Q(3)*K + Q(4)*N*P + Q(5)*N*K +
Q(6)*P*K + Q(7)*N*P*K
 Scale-Location
52
Normal Q-Q
8 53

1.5
52
3

53

Standardized residuals
2
Standardized residuals

1.0
1
0

0.5
-1
-2

0.0
8

-2 -1 0 1 2 0 20 40 60

Theoretical Quantiles Fitted values

aov(y ~ N + P + K) aov(y ~ N + P + K)

Constant Leverage:
Residuals vs Factor Levels

52
3

53
2
Standardized residuals

1
0
-1
-2

8
-3

N:
nl ph sg

Factor Level Combinations

 16.43 55.60
Yield
15.32 57.87

12.45 39.76
16.00
52.10 88.80
14.50
48.70 72.40
10.00
41.50 53.20
16.80
55.60 90.20
14.00
49.80 87.50
11.20
40.00 55.50
16.50
56.20
3.50
50.00
12.90 Yield
42.20
17.00 90.20
55.60
13.80 88.58
47.00
12.00 57.50
39.20
16.67 89.45
53.21
13.54 75.30
48.55
10.34 49.56
34.56
79.88 9.87

70.78 9.00
Yield
57.65 7.00

98.67 10.21
14.30

88.76 8.70
13.55

71.21 7.65
10.32

10.50 14.30
13.70

9.00 13.55
12.98

7.00 10.32
9.88

9.90 13.70
16.10

8.00 12.55
14.55

6.30 8.10
11.30

11.00 13.45
15.30

10.00 12.01
14.34

7.10 9.70
11.90

9.50 12.55
15.90

8.20 10.95
14.02

6.40 9.10
12.30
15.60 0.44 1.32

13.70 0.39 1.22

11.80 0.30 1.07

16.10 0.42 1.40

14.55 0.37 1.20

11.30 0.28 1.00

15.80 0.40 1.41

14.01 0.32 1.32

11.98 0.21 1.21

0.42 1.40 2.20

0.37 1.20 1.68

0.28 1.00 2.40

0.40 1.37 1.87

0.36 1.25 1.65

0.30 1.09 1.54

0.43 1.32 1.89

0.39 1.25 1.78

0.28 1.14 1.49

1.87

1.67

1.43

2.20

1.68

2.40

1.87

1.32

1.21
 CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 SUMMARY

The data of this project is based of the harvest growth obtained applying nitrogen,

phosphorus and potassium (NKP) at different level on the growth maize. From the analysis

above the p-value for each of the fertilizers; Nitrogen Phosphorus and Potassium N0, P60, K120 has

significant effect on the growth of maize. Also for the interaction between Nitrogen vs

Phosphorus N60:P60, Nitrogen vs Phosphorus N120:P60, Nitrogen vs PotassiumN60:K120 are very

significant to the growth of maize varieties. Likewise for the interaction of the three fertilizers

have significant effect on the growth of maize verities.

In relation to the treatment level, among all the fertilizers combination of Nitrogen Phosphorus

and Potassium produced the best growth of maize and the treatment combinations N0, P60, K120

which implies that farmers should consider using any of the fertilizer when planting maize

especially the level of N0, P60, K120.

CONCLUSION

This research work attempts to develop a multiple regression model to investigate the effect of

three level fertilizers on the growth of maize. The study also seeks to instigate if actually, the

ratio of Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contribute to the growth of growth of maize. Also

to detect which of the elements of NPK

Thus, the multiple regression models for the growth of maize was obtained for each and

interaction between the factors using the coded unit given as:

MAIZE GROWTH = Q(0) + Q(1) *N + Q(2)*P + Q(3)*K + Q(4)*N*P + Q(5)*N*K +

Q(6)*P*K + Q(7)*N*P*K

The regression equation for the linear regression and interaction between the factors using the
coded unit from table 4.4 is given thus;

Maize Verities = 12.5983 -3.7817*N +37.721*7P + -3.0283*K + -34.0950*NP + 1.1200*NK +

-7.7550*PK + 4.0450*NKP.

The Goodness of fit was determine by the Adjusted R-squared = 0.9872, with a great
significant test value of p-value = < 2.2e-16, This indicates that the decrement level of maize
verities was given to be of great significant at 5% level of significance.

RECOMMENDATION

Based on the analysis and result, therefore one can conclude that the treatment combination N 0,

P60, K120 gave the maximum growth of maize. It therefore recommends that;

1. Farmers should use the best of the three fertilizers (N 0, P60, and K120) on maize at the time

of planting since their growths showed significant difference.

2. The combination on fertilizers (N0, P60, and K120) on maize should be used by the farmers

to obtain maximum production of the yield and growth of maize.

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