Quantitative difference method for estimation of fertilizer nitrogen balance and uptake by zea mays on an orthic oxisol of North Central Nigeria

The percentic recovery and balance of fertilizer nitrogen can be determined by different methods. In this study, quantitative difference method in recovery of Nitrogen of above-ground dry matter was applied to investigate the uptake of field applied nitrogen by maize cultivated in an orthic oxisol soil. It was found that the maximum uptake of fertilizer N is about 75 % decreasing at the end of the growing period to about 65%. About 25% of the N remains in the upper part of the profile, while about 10% can not be localized and presumably lost by denitrification

Salt Affected Soils Evaluation and Reclamative Approaches for Crop Cultivation in Keana, Northcentral Nigeria

In this study, a field experiment was conducted on salt (saline) affected soils during the cropping seasons of 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 to evaluate the soil properties, determine their effects on two test crop   performances, and its reclaim ability under three different approaches. Reclamative approaches were employed not only to increase efficiency but also reduce the time of reclamation. Soil samples were collected from the surface (0-15) and subsurface (15-30cm) soils for laboratory   determinations. The soils were treated to gypsum (CaS04) at 100% GR alone; gypsum plus farm yard manure (FYM) at 25t/ha and chiseling.  Leaching with irrigation water over a period of 2-4 hours per week was  done. Rice and millet crops were grown for the two crop years. Result of  pre-cultivation soils showed that the physical properties of bulk density had a mean value of 2.37gcm-3 and a low total porosity value of 17.46.  Chemically, the soils are high in acidity (>pH 7.5) and then large   quantities of exchangeable bases and high base saturation.    Post-cultivation results show that gypsum application proved to be the best treatment giving highest grain yield of rice and millet. However, this  treatment followed statistically similar results with gypsum + FYM. Noapplication (control) remained low. Chemically, the pHs was reduced after harvesting of second crop (millet 2005-06). Electrical conductivity (ECe) was reduced after growing of first millet crop except control. The reduction of sodium adsorption ration (SAR) was more after the 2nd crop. The soil parameters in control treatment did not improve. The study concluded thatcontinuation of gypsum + FYM + Chiseling was more effective in improving the soil condition for sustainable land use.Keywords: Salinity, Reclamation, Gypsum, Farm yard manure, Cereal, Tropic

Effects of rumen digesta on the physico-chemical properties of soils in Nsukka, Southeastern Nigeria Ifeoma

In tropical and subtropical areas, the importance of organic manure in improving soil physico-chemical properties and crop production for food security cannot be overemphasized. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of rumen digesta on the physical and chemical properties of soils in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. The soil samples collected from Opi, Nsukka were treated with four rates of rumen digesta (viz. 0, 50, 100 and 150 g/kg soils). Physical and chemical properties of the soil were determined pre- and post-experiment. The results obtained reveal that rumen digesta significantly (p = 0.05) increased the mean weight diameter (0.49 to 1.75 mm), aggregate stability (54.7 to 75.3%), soil pH (3.8 to 7.8), total nitrogen (0.01 to 0.02%), exchangeable sodium and potassium (0.22 to 4.39 cmol/kg for Na+ and 0.30 cmol/kg to 4.31 for K+), CEC (7.2 to 14.9 cmol/kg) and organic matter content (0.97 to 4.29%). It had no significant effect on the texture, micro-aggregate stability (measured as dispersion ratio), exchangeable calcium and magnesium content of the soils. The study found a significant reduction in the exchangeable aluminum (1.5 to 0.0 cmol/kg) and hydrogen content (3.7 to 2.2 cmol/kg) of the soils. It is recommended that farmers can improve the physical and chemical properties of soils by using rumen digesta as an alternative liming material.Key words: Rumen digesta, soil properties, evaluation, rural land, Nsukka-Nigeria

Effects of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on morphological and physiological growth of cassava and its efficacy in controlling Zonocerus variegatus

Zonocerus variegatus infestation has been found to cause a lot of devastation in the production of cassava crop plants in tropical and subtropical areas. Understanding the efficacy of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on controlling Z. variegatus is desired. The present study was conducted in the Department of Crop Science experimental site, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka to investigate the effects of M. oleifera leaf extract (MLE) on the morphological and physiological growth characteristics of cassava (Manihot utilissima Pohl.); and its efficacy as organic insecticide for controlling Z. variegatus infestation. M. oleifera leaf extract diluted in water at the volume to volume (v/v) ratios of 1:10, 1:20, 1:30 and 1:40 were applied weekly while “Uppercut (R)” (30 g dimethoate plus 250 g cypermethrin), used as water emulsifiable concentrate, was applied at the rate of 0.2 a.i./ha at three-weekly interval for two months. Result shows that M. oleifera leaf extract (MLE) dilution at the ratio of 1:30 MLE in water gave the highest percentage stem height difference (%SHD) at 32 weeks after planting with a value of 20.5% followed by 1:20 (17.8%), 1:10 (10.56%), dimethoate plus cypermethrin (8.98%) and 1:40 (8.05%). The control had the least %SHD and %LND. Dimethoate plus cypermethrin treatment was more efficacious as it eradicated the insects and caused significant (p < 0.05) increase in the number of leaves and reduction in the percentage leaf abscission especially from the thirtieth week after planting. However a combined use of Dimethoate plus cypermethrin and M. oleifera leaf extract may give a better result and as such recommended than a single treatment application

Influence of soil type and fertilizer rate on the yield and yield stability of maize in three locations of South Eastern Nigeria.

In a study to determine the effects of soil type and fertilizer application on maize performance and yiel d stability under rain-fed conditions, split-split-plot design was carried out using three selected locations (Nsukka, Awgu and Abakaliki) as the main plots, two cultivars of maize (Oba Super . 2 and local variety) as the sub-plot treatments, and five fertilizer levels (f0, f1 f2, f3, f4) as the sub-subplot treatments. The treatments were replicated four times in RCB Design for three cropping seasons (1996, 1997 and 1998). Regression equations between variety mean and site mean obtained with and without fertilizer treatments were constructed. The study showed that location, fertilizer and cultivars as well as some of their interaction effects significantly, either at P.0.05 or 0.01, affected maize yield. The significant interaction effects of location x cultivar on mean grain yields suggest that under stable environmental conditions, Awgu soils emerged the best, followed by Abakaliki, and then by Nsukka. In terms of yield stability under fertilized condition the regression showed that local maize was more stable than the hybrid maize although, hybrid maize consistently out-yielded the local maize

Yield of maize (Manoma spp) affected by automobile oil waste and compost manure

The study is aimed at evaluating the effects of compost manure on the remediation of automobile oil waste polluted soils, and on the yield parameters (plant height, leave surface and dry matter weight) of maize (Manoma spp). Analyses of soil samples of contaminated and uncontaminated sites collected with core samplers at 10 cm depth and auger samplers at two depths (surface, 0 – 20 cm; subsurface, 20 – 40 cm) were examined for chemical and physical properties, including poly aromatic hydrocarbons. Polluted soils were biotreated for testing maize in a greenhouse. Soil physical and chemical properties decreased with depth and were significantly (P<0.05) affected by contamination. Decreases in soil poly aromatic carbon from original concentration were observed. Phyto-assessment showed that maize seedlings bio-accumulated heavy metals in polluted soils, which made their survival rate marginal relative to those grown in uncontaminated soils. Soil amendment with compost manure significantly (P<0.05) improved soil properties and maize yield variables. Ecological risk factor (HQ>1) of heavy metals (for example; Zn, Cu, Mn) was high for maize cultivation. Paradigm approach emphasizing sustainable biological soil systems management is desired. Particularly, bioremediation of oil polluted soils using organic materials, and siting of mechanic villages several kilometers away from major land uses (residential houses, farm lands, and usable water bodies) are important for protecting the soil resources for agricultural purposes, and to ensuring environmental sanity and sustainability.Keywords: Automobile oil wastes, phytotoxicity, soil amendment, poly aromatic carbonsAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(11), 1250-125

Effects of rumen digesta on the physico-chemical properties of soil in Nsukka, South eastern Nigeria

In tropical and subtropical areas, the importance of organic manure in improving soil physico-chemical properties and crop production for food security cannot be overemphasized. A study was conducted during 2012/2013 crop years, to investigate the effects of rumen digesta on the physical and chemical properties of soil in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from Opi, Nsukka and treated to four rates of rumen digesta (viz. 0, 50, 100, and 150 gkg-1 soils). Physical and chemical properties of the soil were determined pre and post-experiment. The results obtained revealed that rumen digesta significantly (p = 0.05) increased the mean weight diameter (0.49 to 1.75 mm), aggregate stability (54.7% to 75.3%), soil pH (3.8 to 7.8), total nitrogen (0.01% to 0.02%), exchangeable sodium and potassium (0.22 to 4.39 cmolkg-1 for Na+ and 0.30 to 4.31 cmolkg-1 for K+), CEC (7.2 to 14.9 cmolkg-1 ) and organic matter content (0.97% to 4.29%). It had no significant effect on the texture, micro-aggregate (measured as dispersion ratio), exchangeable calcium and magnesium content of the soils. The study found significant reduction in the exchangeable aluminum (1.5 to 0.0 cmolkg-1) and hydrogen (3.7 to 2.2 cmolkg-1) contents of the soils. Farmers can therefore improve the physical and chemical properties of soils by using rumen digesta as an alternative liming material.Keywords: Rumen digesta, soil properties, fertilizer use, Nsukka-Nigeri

Optimizing Indigenous Soil Fertility Assessments. A Case Study in Cotton‐Based Systems in Burkina Faso

Participatory development of sustainable soil fertility (SF) management practices requires building bridges between science and indigenous knowledge. Whereas scientific SF indicators are reasonably standardized, indigenous SF indicators are site-specific and system-specific. Furthermore, the process of indigenous SF evaluation is very time consuming. This study therefore aimed at investigating the compatibility between local and analytical SF indicators, and at optimizing the process of indigenous SF assessment. Thirteen cotton plots were evaluated by famers on a scale from 0 (fertile) to 5 (degraded) and sampled for physico-chemical characterization. Farmers identified 13 SF indicators related to soil, crop status, biological activity and management. Of these, 10 were retained to calculate a local SF index (LFI). Clay and silt content, pHwater and P-Bray explained 88% of the total variance in LFI, indicating good yet incomplete compatibility between the indigenous and scientific approaches. Because of redundancy among local indicators, it was shown that the LFI could be estimated using one pedoindicator, one bio-indicator and one phyto-indicator without significant loss of accuracy. However, a minimum local indicator dataset composed of six indicators was recommended to allow for data cross-checking. There was a trade-off between the number of indicators and the number of farmers needed to estimate the LFI. There was a reasonable agreement between local and analytical fertility indicators, even though farmers’ perception appeared rather more based on the effect and consequences of SF than on its actual status. Although compatible, analytical indicators should be translated into variables similar to local indicators in order to facilitate communication