Maize Field Trial in Ghana: NUTREENT Achieves Cob Weights Equivalent to Standard NPK Chemical Fertilizers

Location: Ghana

Crop: Maize (Zea mays L.) - Variety: Kunjor Wari (Hybrid, 90-day maturity)

Comparison: Biological (NUTREENT) vs. Synthetic (NPK 90:60:60)

The Objective

To evaluate "Fertilizer-Use Efficiency" by comparing NUTREENT's biological formulation directly against the region's standard high-input chemical fertilizer regimen (NPK 90kg Nitrogen, 60kg Phosphorus, 60kg Potassium per hectare).

The Methodology

The study utilized a randomized design with six treatment levels to measure growth and yield metrics:

• T1: Chemical Standard (NPK 90:60:60 kg/ha)

• T2: NUTREENT High Dose (0.906 kg/ha)

• T3: 50/50 Mix (Half Chemical / Half NUTREENT)

• T4 - T5: Lower NUTREENT Doses

• T6: Control (0 kg/ha)

Key Performance Results

The findings reveal that NUTREENT is a viable, high-performance replacement for synthetic fertilizers, delivering premium harvest quality without the environmental toll of NPK.

• Cob Weight Parity with Chemicals: This was the most significant finding. The average cob weight for the Chemical Standard (T1) was 217.77g, while the NUTREENT (T2) cob weight was 211.50g. The difference (1.46%) was statistically insignificant, proving NUTREENT builds fruit biomass as effectively as heavy chemicals.

• 148% Yield Increase vs. Untreated: Compared to the control group (T6), which yielded only 3.50 kg/plot, the NUTREENT group (T2) yielded 8.67 kg/plot—a massive gain in food production.

• Identical Cob Size: In terms of Cob Diameter, NUTREENT treated maize was statistically equal to the Chemical group (approx. 12-13cm), ensuring export-grade quality.

The "50/50" Strategy

The study also tested a mixture (T3) of half-chemical/half-NUTREENT. This treatment performed exceptionally well, often matching the full chemical dose. This suggests that farmers can immediately reduce their chemical usage by 50% by incorporating NUTREENT, maintaining high yields while lowering soil toxicity.

Conclusion

The data confirms that NUTREENT is a robust biological alternative. By producing yields that rival NPK 90:60:60, it allows commercial maize growers to transition away from synthetic dependence while maintaining the cob weight and grain quality the market demands.