Application of Simplex Lattice Design in Maize Fodder Production

This study involved mixture experiment using simplex lattice design approach in cultivation of Maize crop with the view of optimizing the fertilizer components (dependent variables) on the output parameter (maize fodder). The objective of this study was to evaluate optimal sets of mixture of fertilizer components that could maximize the response variables of interest. Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), Poultry manure, Sheep manure, and Farmyard manure components mixed in various proportions in accordance with simplex lattice design were applied in planting hybrid maize seeds. With the application of the special cubic statistical model formulated, it was found that farmyard manure and poultry manure produced the optimal fertilizer condition. However, the this study further provided specific optimal fertilizer blend for maize fodder production as 8.0 tons ha -1 of farmyard manure mixed with 1.212 tons ha -1 of poultry manure. Under these conditions, a maximum outputs 42 tons ha -1 of maize fodder were realized. The study concluded that the formulation of statistical model for crop production could be useful for prediction and evaluation of the effects of experimental factors. KEY WORDS : Maize fodder; Fertilizer components; Model; Mixture experiment; Simplex Lattice Design; DOI : 10.7176/MTM/9-7-05 Publication date : July 31 st 2019