Effect of black soldier fly biofertilizer and NPK fertilizer on the performance of maize in Arapai Soroti district and Abizard in Arua district.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2026
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Busitema University
Abstract
Maize is one of the global grains third ranked following wheat and rice, which provide food, feed and industrial raw material. Production of maize is mainly affected by pests and diseases, high input costs, changes in prevailing global prices and most importantly declining soil fertility and nutrient depletion. Improved technologies like use of conventional fertilizers have registered minimal success among the rural farming communities due to high prices, inconsistent supply and high rate of adulteration and soil acidification and eutrophication of water streams. Alternatives for nutrient supplementation were being thought of; therefore, this study evaluated the effect of black soldier fly fertilizer and NPK in performance of maize under on-farm conditions in a multilocation trial in Arapai and Abizard. Randomized complete block design was used to lay the experimental plots with four replications. (1) control, (2) combination of BSF 50% N + NPK 50%, (3) sole application of NPK 100% N, (4) sole BSF 100% N and four replications. Our findings showed significant effect in plant height (p < 0.001) in Arapai and Abizard; leaf area (p < 0.001) in both locations, leaf area index was significant (p < 0.001) all locations, stem diameter (p <0.001) and number of leaves (p < 0.043) and grain weight (p < 0.001) and grain yield (p < 0.001), cob length (p < 0.001) and cob diameter (p < 0.001) for combination against other treatments. We conclude that combination performed better than other treatment for all measured parameters except in leaf area where NPK produced larger leaf size. Our results recommend promoting BSF or integration of BSF and NPK to enhance food security and incomes of farmers and above all safeguarding soil health and environmental conservation.
Key words: black soldier fly frass fertilizer, soil fertility, grain weight, grain yield, cob length
Description
Undergraduate research report
Keywords
Citation
Siraji, A. (2026). Effect of black soldier fly biofertilizer and NPK fertilizer on the performance of maize in Arapai Soroti district and Abizard in Arua district. [Unpublished undergraduate research report]. Busitema University.