Neutralization of soil acidity by animal manures: mechanism of reaction

The mechanism of reaction leading to neutralization of soil acidity by animal manures was studied in the laboratory. Five animal manures; rabbit manure (RBM), swine manure (SWM), goat manure (GTM),poultry manure (POM), and cow manure (COM) were respectively added at rates equivalent to 10, 20, 30, and 40 t ha-1 to an Ultisol having soil-water pH of 4.6 and KCl extractable acidity of 3.00 cmol kg-1. Theamended soils were incubated at 70% water holding capacity for 3 weeks. Animal manures significantly increased the soil pH from 4.6 to values above 5.6 and also reduced exchangeable acidity from 3.00cmol kg-1 to values below 0.35 cmol kg-1. The mechanism that best explained the neutralization reaction was found to be microbial decarboxylation of calcium-organic matter complex leading to the release and subsequent hydrolysis of calcium ions. The hydroxyl ions released in the hydrolytic reaction then reacts with both the exchangeable hydrogen and aluminum ions to form water and insoluble aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) respectively

Mulching an Arenic Hapludult at Umudike: Effects on saturated hydraulic conductivity and rhizome yield of turmeric

A study was carried out over two cropping seasons on an Arenic Hapludult at Umudike, southeastern Nigeria, to investigate and determine the quantity and type of mulch material that would optimize the rhizome yield of turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn) and improve the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil. The turmeric was planted at two depths; 5 and 10 cm. Two types of mulch, straw (elephant grass)and wood shavings were evaluated at 3 rates (0, 4 and 8 t/ha). Results showed that the effect of mulching on rhizome yield was significant. Yields increased significantly with the rate of mulch. Rhizome yield of turmeric was significantly influenced by the depth of planting and mulch type used. The 10 cm planting depth out-yielded 5 cm depth, and straw mulch out-yielded wood shavings. Optimum values of Ksat occurred at the 4 t/ha mulch rate. Bulk density, macro porosity and microporosity were the most important physical properties influencing Ksat of the soil. Total porosity (Pt), and void ratio (Ve) were not good indicators of Ksat even though they positively explained between 98 and96% of its variations, respectively

Environment, health and risk assessment: A case study of the use of an abandoned municipal waste dump site for agricultural purposes

The study was carried out on abandoned municipal waste dump site which has been converted to agricultural land. Three profile pits each of 100 cm depth were dug along a toposequence on the land. The profile pit P1 was dug on the crest while P2 and P3 were on the middle and down slope (valleybottom), respectively. Soil samples were collected at 10 cm interval from each profile and cassava (Mannihot esculenta Cranz) and cocoyam (Colocesia esculenta) were selected at random and harvested from the whole farm. Heavy metal content (Pb, Ni, Cd, Cu and Zn) of soils and the crops (roots and leaves) were determined. The level of Pb was found to be highest in both soils and food crops with the total mean concentration of 133.74±10.60 mg/kg in soil. The Pb level was 83.02±27.84 and 105.37±45.37 mg/kg in the roots and leaves of cocoyam, respectively, and 76.6±19.94 and 111.51±17.78 mg/kg in the roots and leaves of cassava, respectively. Cadmium had the least mean concentration in both soil andfood crops with 2.08±0.12 mg/kg in soil and 4.10 in the roots and leaves of both cassava and cocoyam. When the individual profile pits were examined, no regular variation of heavy metal was observed but there was tendency of accumulation of heavy metal in soils of down slope P3 because it had thehighest mean concentration of all the heavy metal except for Zn. Correlation analysis was used to examine the dependency of the heavy metals upon themselves, Cu and Zn had positive correlation withPb, Cd with Zn, and Zn with Cu

Effect of cropping system on yield of some sweetpotato and okra cultivars in an intercropping system

A field trial was conducted for 2 years to determine cropping system effect on yield of some sweetpotato and okra cultivars in an intercropping system. Sweetpotato variety TIS 87/0087 produced significantly (

Characterization of two benchmark soils of contrasting parent materials in Abia State, Southeastern Nigeria

Detailed characterization of two important agricultural soils of contrasting parent materials, found in southeastern Nigeria was carried out. The Amakama soil formed over Coastal Plain Sands has a deep, well drained profile greater than 240cm deep. The soil texture varies from loamy sand in the surface layer to sandy clay loam down the profile. The Ibeku soil formed over Bende-Ameki (clay shale) formation has a deep profile that is gravelly in the upper 60cm and clayey in the lower horizons. Bulk density on oven dry basis ranged from 1.3 to 1.66 g cm-3 in the Ibeku soil and from 1.43 to1.52 g cm-3 in the Amakama soil. Water content at 33 kPa ranged from 13.7 to 14.9 in the Amakama soil and from 27.8 to 48.4 in the Ibeku soil. Chemically, the Amakama soil is deficient in basic cations with aluminum saturation being greater than 83%. The soils are very acidic (pH 4.5 – 4.9) and low in organic carbon, total nitrogen and available phosphorus. In contrast, the Ibeku soil has high levels of calcium, sum of basic cations that range from 9.2 to 23.5 cmol(+) kg-1 and aluminum saturation of 25 - 40%. Total nitrogen and organic carbon are medium and available phosphorus is low in this soil. The mineralogy of clay sized particles showed a dominance of kaolinite in both soils with some quantities of montmorillonite that increased down the profile. In the Ibeku soil, the mineralogy of coarse silt fractions showed that goethite and quartz were the dominant minerals in upper horizons (< 1 m) while potassium feldspar and goethite dominated the lower horizons. Amakama soil was classified as Fine loamy, siliceous, isohyperthermic, Rhodic Haplustox while Ajata –Ibeku soil was classified as very fine, kaolinitic, isohyperthermic, Aquertic Paleustalf.KEY WORDS: Benchmark soil, Mineralogy, Morphology, Soil properties

Comparison of Chlorhexidine - Alcohol and Providone Iodine Skin Preparation Skin Preparation Solutions in Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery at An African Tertiary Hospital

No Abstract

Effect of soybean relayed into yam miniset/maize intercrop on the yields of component crops and soil fertility of yam based system

The effect of four varieties of soybean (TGX 1019-2 EB, TGX 1448 – 2E, TGX 1740 – 2F. TGX 1440 – IE) relayed into yam ministett/maize system on the yield of component crops and soil fertility of yam based system was investigated at National Root Crops Research Institute, substation Otobi, Benue State, Nigeria. Soybean relayed into yam minisett/maize intercrop did not significantly affect both yam tuber and maize grain yields but significantly increased the productivity of the cropping system from one hundred and ninety one thousand four hundred Naira per hectare obtained without soybean to two hundred and thirty eight thousand eight hundred Naira per hectare obtained with soybean variety TGX 1448-2E. Soybean mean grain yield of 0.56, 0.48, and 0.43 t/ha obtained with TGX 1448-2E, TGX 1440-1E, and TGX 1740-2F respectively were similar but higher than 0.22 t/ha obtained with TGX 1019-2 EB. Soybean in the cropping system ensured large qualities of nutrients in the legume haulms. Soybean variety TGX 1448 – 2E and TGX 1440 – 1E contained significantly higher nitrogen in the haulms with values of 28.52 t/ha and 25.14 t/ha respectively than TGX 1740 – 2F and TGX 1019 – 2EB which contained 12.50 t/ha and 6.03 t/ha respectively. Phosphorus, K, Ca and Mg contents of the haulms were also in the same order. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol. 15 2005: 20-2

Effect of vegetable cowpea population on component crop yields and productivity of yam based systems

No Abstract.Nigeria Agricultural Journal Vol. 37 2006: pp. 81-8

Nutrient composition of climbing and prostrate vegetable cowpea accessions

The study evaluated the nutrient content of different accessions of two vegetable cowpea genotypes. The mineral content of the vegetable cowpea accessions were high. Potassium content of theaccessions of the climbing genotype “Akidi enu” ranged from 1.25 to 1.52% with a mean value of 1.43 ± 0.13% while in the accessions of the prostrate genotype “Akidi ani” the range was from 1.26 to 1.45%with a mean value of 1.36 ± 0.10%. “Akidi enu” had a mean P content of 0.74 ± 0.13% which was lower than a mean value of 0.87 ± 0.14% obtained for “Akidi ani”. “Akidi enu” had higher Ca content than“Akidi ani”. Protein contents of the vegetable cowpea genotypes were quite high ranging from 19.89 to 26.56% with a mean value of 23.52 ± 2.75% in “Akidi enu” and from 24.68 to 25.25% with a mean value of24.97 ± 0.29% in “Akidi ani”. Among the trace metals (Fe, Zn, Mn and Co), iron had the highest values, in the climbing genotype (Akidi enu), Fe ranged from 82.75 to 125.00 mg/kg with a mean value of 102.69 ±17.33 mg/kg. The prostate genotype of the vegetable cowpea (Akidi ani) had slightly lower amount of this nutrient with a mean value of 95.31 ± 27.19 mg/kg and a range of 68.12 to 122.50 mg/kg. Zinccontent of the vegetable cowpea ranged from 27.62 to 37.62 mg/kg with a mean value of 32.58 ± 4.08 mg/kg in “Akidi enu”. The content of this element was slightly higher in “Akidi ani” which had a meanvalue of 36.50 ± 9.00 mg/kg and a range of 27.50 to 45.50 mg/kg. It was concluded that both cowpea genotypes were high in nutrient content

Effect of animal manures on selected soil properties: II. Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus

No Abstract. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol. 16 (1) 2006: pp. 145-15