Organomineral Fertilizer IGOF as a Climate-Smart Alternative to NPK for Soil pH Correction, Grain Yield, and Nutritional Quality in Maize (Zea mays L.) Production in Kaduna State, Nigeria
A field trial in Kaduna State, Nigeria, demonstrates that the organomineral fertilizer IGOF, particularly when blended with poultry manure, outperforms conventional NPK by significantly correcting soil acidity, enhancing maize grain protein and lipid content, and generating positive economic returns for smallholder farmers, thereby offering a scalable, climate-smart solution aligned with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals.
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In the fertile but often acidic soils of Nigeria's Guinea Savanna, maize is more than just a crop; it is the backbone of food security for millions. Yet, the farmers who grow it face a double bind. To get a good harvest, they need fertilizer, but the standard chemical options are becoming prohibitively expensive and, over time, can actually damage the very ground they rely on by making the soil more acidic. At the same time, the country generates massive amounts of agricultural waste—stalks, husks, and manure—that is often burned or left to rot, releasing carbon into the atmosphere. The scientific question driving recent research in Kaduna State is whether these two problems can be solved with a single solution: turning waste into a new kind of fertilizer that feeds the plant while healing the soil.
This question led a researcher to test a product called Instant Growth Organic Fertilizer, or IGOF. Unlike the concentrated chemical powders found in standard bags, IGOF is an organomineral fertilizer, a blend created by processing agro-industrial residues into a material that contains both organic matter and essential minerals. The researcher wanted to see if this locally made product could outperform the conventional chemical mix known as NPK, which provides nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. They set up a field trial to measure not just how much corn the plants produced, but also how the fertilizer changed the soil's chemistry, the nutritional value of the grain, and whether the farmers would actually make money using it.
The experiment took place on a plot of land in Kaduna, where the researcher grew maize using four different approaches. They applied the standard chemical NPK fertilizer, the new IGOF product, and both of these materials blended with poultry manure. The goal was to see which combination helped the corn grow best and corrected the soil's acidity, a common problem in the region that locks away nutrients and stunts growth. The results were striking. The treatment that mixed IGOF with poultry manure proved to be the most powerful tool for fixing the soil. It raised the soil's pH by 1.30 units, shifting it from a slightly acidic state to a healthy, neutral level. In contrast, the standard chemical NPK fertilizer, even when applied alone, failed to correct the acidity and actually made the soil slightly more acidic. This suggests that while chemical fertilizers might feed the plant in the short term, they do not address the underlying soil degradation that limits long-term productivity.
When it came to the harvest, the IGOF treatments showed remarkable promise. The maize grown with IGOF alone produced the highest grain yield, reaching an average of 10.27 tonnes per hectare. While this was not statistically different from the yield of the chemical NPK treatment, the IGOF plants achieved this with a much lower application rate and without the heavy cost associated with the chemical option. More importantly, the quality of the grain changed. Maize grown with IGOF had significantly higher protein and lipid (fat) content compared to the chemical fertilizer. The protein content rose to 16.10 percent, a substantial increase over the 12.62 percent found in the chemical-treated grain. This shift means the crop is not just heavier, but more nutritious, offering a better source of food for the families who consume it.
The economic picture was perhaps the most decisive finding of the study. When the researcher calculated the costs and returns based on typical Nigerian farming practices, the standard chemical NPK fertilizer resulted in a net loss for the farmer. The high cost of the chemical inputs, combined with the lower yields it produced in this specific trial, meant that farmers using only NPK would lose over 1.3 million Nigerian Naira per hectare. In sharp contrast, every treatment involving IGOF turned a profit. The blend of IGOF and poultry manure was the most profitable, generating a net gain of over 1.5 million Naira per hectare. Even IGOF used on its own remained highly profitable. This economic reality highlights a critical vulnerability in current farming practices: relying solely on expensive imported chemicals can push smallholder farmers into debt, whereas using locally sourced, waste-derived alternatives can restore their financial stability.
The study also observed a subtle but important difference in how the crops interacted with their environment. The plots treated with the chemical NPK fertilizer saw a faster and heavier growth of weeds. This is likely because the chemical fertilizer releases its nutrients into the soil very quickly, creating a sudden burst of food that opportunistic weeds can grab before the maize even gets a chance to establish itself. The IGOF treatments, by contrast, released nutrients more slowly, which seemed to suppress the early surge of weeds, potentially saving farmers the labor and cost of weeding.
Ultimately, this research points to a viable path forward for agriculture in Nigeria and similar regions. It demonstrates that a fertilizer made from local waste can do more than just feed a crop; it can repair the soil, improve the nutritional quality of the food, and ensure that farming remains a profitable livelihood. While the study was conducted at a single site and over one growing season, the evidence suggests that shifting away from a reliance on expensive, soil-depleting chemicals toward organomineral blends could be a key strategy for achieving food security and economic resilience. The findings offer a concrete example of how turning waste into a resource can simultaneously address soil health, climate action, and the economic well-being of smallholder farmers.
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