Maize Yield and Economic Response to Integrated Organic and Nitrogen Fertilization in Gaza Province, Mozambique

Low maize yields in Mozambique remain a major constraint to food security, primarily due to soil nutrient depletion and limited access to affordable fertilizers among smallholder farmers. Integrated nutrient management, combining organic and mineral inputs, offers a promising approach to improve both productivity and soil health. This study evaluated the agronomic performance and economic viability of combining poultry and cattle manure with urea (mineral nitrogen) in maize production in Gaza province, Mozambique. A 3 × 3 × 3 factorial experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design evaluated three rates of cattle manure (0, 5, and 10 t·ha^-1), poultry manure (0, 5, and 10 t·ha^-1), and nitrogen fertilizer (0, 40, and 80 kg N·ha^-1). Results showed that integrated treatments significantly increased plant height from 177 to 217 cm and grain yield from 3.04 to 5.23 t·ha^-1 compared with the unfertilized controls. Soil organic matter increased from 1.60% in the control to 3.78% under 5 t·ha^-1 cattle manure. The best agronomic performance was achieved by integrating poultry manure with 40-80 kg N·ha^-1. Economically, the sole application of 5 t·ha^-1 poultry manure provided the highest marginal rate of return (MRR > 1000%), indicating it as the most cost-effective option. These findings demonstrated that integrated organic and mineral fertilization enhances maize yield and farm profitability, offering a practical solution for improving smallholder productivity in semi-arid regions. Further multi-season studies are recommended to validate longer-term effects.