The Status of Micronutrients and Sulphur in Some Plantation Crops at Different Ages in an Alfisol of Southern Nigeria

A  study  was  conducted  to  assess  nutrient  dynamics  of  soils  under  old  and  young  cocoa,  coffee  and  cashew plantations and the leaf nutrient contents of the crops at Uhonmora, Edo State, Nigeria for proper cultural and soil fertility management of the plantations. Soil and crop leaf samples were collected from each plantation using random sampling technique. The samples were analyzed using standard procedures for sand, silt, clay, pH (H2O), electrical conductivity (EC), total N, available P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Effective Cation Exchange Capacity (ECEC). Leaf samples were analyzed for N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na. Data were compared with the corresponding soil and foliar critical nutrient values for each crop. Results indicated that the soils were texturally sandy clay loam and acidic. The soils varied in their nutrient contents, with soil P for the old cocoa, young coffee and cashew plantations far below critical values. The young cashew plot was low in N content but adequate for other plots. However, the soil ECEC increased with increase in calcium contents. Leaf N was below critical for all the crops. Leaf K was low for cocoa and coffee plants, leaf Ca was low for the young cashew plants, while leaf Mg was low for the young cocoa and old cashew. The high soil Mg/K ratio of 8.7- 22.3 as against the established value of 2.0 might have resulted in gross nutrient imbalance which must have affected the absorption and utilization of other nutrients. Hence, adequate soil N did not translate to availability of same to the crops. The ECEC showed that the soil needs to be improved upon for sustainable productivity. Soil nutrient content variation across the plantations with age of establishment will necessitate the need for consistent routine soil nutrient assessment for proper and balanced soil nutrient supply to the crops, for healthy crop growth and optimum yield.  Management practices of soil surface mulching using organic wastes and cover crops under compatible cropping systems are needed for successful plot establishment and better growth performance of the young seedlings.Keywords: Alfisol,different ages, leaf nutrient content,  micronutrient, plantation crops, soil nutrient content, soil [How to Cite: Joseph SO and RR Ipinmoroti. 2014. The Status of Micronutrient and Sulphur in Some Plantation Crops of Different Ages in an Alfisol in Southern Nigeria. J Trop Soils 19(2): 63-68. Doi: 10.5400/jts.2014.19.2.63]  [Permalink/DOI: www.dx.doi.org/10.5400/jts.2014.19.2.63] &nbsp

Soil Nutrient Dynamics Under Old and Young Cocoa, Coffee and Cashew Plantations at Uhonmora, Edo State, Nigeria

A  study  was  conducted  to  assess  nutrient  dynamics  of  soils  under  old  and  young  cocoa,  coffee  and  cashew plantations and the leaf nutrient contents of the crops at Uhonmora, Edo State, Nigeria for proper cultural and soil fertility management of the plantations. Soil and crop leaf samples were collected from each plantation using a random sampling technique. The samples were analyzed using standard procedures for sand, silt, clay, pH (H2O), electrical conductivity (EC), total N, available P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, and Effective Cation Exchange Capacity (ECEC). Leaf samples were analyzed for N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na. Data were compared with the corresponding soil and foliar critical nutrient values for each crop. Results indicated that the soils were texturally sandy clay loam and acidic. The soils varied in their nutrient contents, with soil P for the old cocoa, young coffee and cashew plantations far below critical values. The young cashew plot was low in N content but adequate for other plots. However, the soil ECEC increased with the increasing of calcium contents. Leaf N was below critical for all the crops. Leaf K was low for cocoa and coffee plants, leaf Ca was low for the young cashew plants, while leaf Mg was low for the young cocoa and old cashew. The high soil Mg/K ratio of 8.7- 22.3 as against the established value of 2.0 might have resulted in gross nutrient imbalance which must have affected the absorption and utilization of other nutrients. Hence, adequate soil N did not translate the same availability to the crops. The ECEC showed that the soil needs to be improved upon for sustainable  productivity.  Soil  nutrient  content  variation  across  the  plantations  with  age  of  establishment  will necessitate the need for consistent routine soil nutrient assessment for proper and balanced soil nutrient supply to the  crops,  for  healthy  crop  growth  and  optimum  yield.    Management  practices  of  soil  surface  mulching  using organic wastes and cover crops under compatible cropping systems are needed for successful plot establishment and better growth performance of the young seedlings.Key words: Nutrient dynamics, plantation crops, rehabilitation, soil fertility management [How to Cite: Rotimi RI and JS Ogeh. 2014. Soil Nutrient Dynamics under Old and Young Cocoa, Coffee and Cashew Plantations at Uhonmora, Edo State, Nigeria. J Trop Soils 19(2): 85-90. Doi: 10.5400/jts.2014.19.2.85] [Permalink/DOI: www.dx.doi.org/10.5400/jts.2014.19.2.85]    &nbsp

Micronutrient Assessment of Cocoa, Kola, Cashew and Coffee Plantations for Sustainable Production at Uhonmora, Edo State, Nigeria

The micronutrient status of the soils and leaf of cocoa, kola, cashew and coffee plantations to study the soil-plant micronutrient content relationship in the plantation soils for proper management towards optimum production of the crops was investigated at Uhonmora, Edo State, Nigeria. Soil and leaf samples were collected from these plantations and analyzed according to standard laboratory procedures. The soil samples were analyzed for the micronutrients (Cu, Mn, Zn and Fe) and in addition pH, organic carbon, sand, silt and clay contents, while the leaves were analyzed for only the micronutrient contents. Results indicated that the soils were sandy loam, acidic, low in organic carbon, deficient in Cu and Mn but very high in Fe and Zn contents. This probably resulted in nutrient imbalance in the soils and the deficiency of the nutrients in the crops. The plantations therefore require application of organic manures and micronutrient fertilizers to rectify the inadequate soil organic matter and to supply sufficient amount of Cu and Mn in the soils, to obtain quality fruit yield at optimum level from the plantations.Keywords: Cashew, cocoa, coffee, kola, micronutrients, sustainable production [How to Cite: Ogeh JS and RR Ipinmoroti. 2013. Micronutrient Assessment of Cocoa, Kola, Cashew and Coffee  Plantations for Sustainable Production at Uhonmora, Edo State, Nigeria. J Trop Soils 18 (2): 93-97. Doi: 10.5400/jts.2013.18.2.93] [Permalink/DOI: www.dx.doi.org/10.5400/jts.2013.18.2.93]  REFERENCESAdebiyi S, EO Uwagbue, EA Agbongiarhuoyi, I Ndagi and EO Aigbekaen. 2011.  Assessment of agronomic practices among kola farmers in Osun State, Nigeria. World J Agric Sci 7: 400-403.Afolabi CA and NE Egbe. 1984.  Yield response of kola to N, P and K fertilizer application:  A case study of preliminary trial. Cafe Cacao The 28: 13-16. AOAC [Association of Official Analytical Chemists]. 1990.  Official Methods of Analysis, 15th Edition. Washington DC: 774-784.Ayanlaja SA. 1983.  Rehabilitation of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) in Nigeria: Major problem and possible solution. Plant Soil  73: 403-409.CBN [Central Bank of Nigeria]. 2010.  Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for the year. Abuja, Nigeria. 182 p.Chude VO and GO Obigbesan. 1983.  Safe and toxic application rates of boron for cocoa seedlings. Plant Soil 74: 145-147.Egbe NE, EA Ayodele and CR Obatolu. 1989.  Soils and nutrition of cocoa, coffee, kola  cashew and tea. Prog Tree Crop Res 2: 28-38.Falade JA. 1978.  Cashew growing soil in Nigeria. East Afr Agric J 43: 100-105. FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization]. 2010.  Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.  http://faostat.fao.org/site/567/DesktopDefault.aspx? PageID=567#ancor. Accessed on 21 January 2010.Ibiremo OS and O Fagbola. 2008. Effect of phosphorus fertilizer and arbuscular mycorhizal  fungi inoculation on the growth of cashew seedlings in two soils in Nigeria. Nigerian J Soil Sci 18: 138-146.Ipinmoroti RR, OSO Akanbi, MA Daniel, LA Adebowale, GA Adewoye, EA Makinde and CO Kayode. 2011.  Potentials of NPK and organic fertilizers on growth performance of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) seedlings on degraded typic alfisol soils in Ibadan, Nigeria. J Agric Sci Tech 1: 876-881.Ipinmoroti RR, P Aikpokpodion and OSO Akanbi.  2009.  Nutritional assessment of cocoa plots for soil fertility management on some cocoa farms in Nigeria. Proceedings of 16th International Cocoa Research Conference Held at Grand Hyatt  Hotel, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, pp 1481-1485.Iremiren GO and  AM Ekhomun. 2005.  Effects of N fertilizer rates on the performance of maize-okra mixture in an acid sand soil of the Nigerian forest zone. Nigerian J Appl Sci 23: 11-14. McKenzie RH.  2001.  Micronutrient requirements of crops. Alberta Agriculture and Rural development   http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex713. Acessed on 21 July 2011.Nelson DW and LE Sommers. 1982.  Organic carbon and soil extracts In: D L Sparks (ed).  Methods of soil Analysis. Part 2- Chemical and microbiological properties. Agronomy Monograph No.9, 2nd Edition. American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI, USA, pp. 539-579.Ogunlade MO, OS Ibiremo, RR Ipinmoroti, CI Iloyanomon and PE Aikpokpodion. 2011.  Determination of phosphorus and potassium fixation capacities and fertilizer fctors in soils of three cocoa growing areas of Nigeria. J Soil Nat 5: 11-16.Ogunmoyela OA and CR Obatolu. 1984.  Nutrient studies and fertilizer requirements of Nigeria tea. Cafe Cacao The 28: 179-184.Ogunwale JA, JO Olaniyan and MO Aduloju. 2002.  Morphological, physico-chemical and clay mineralogical properties of soils overlaying basement complex rocks in Ilorin East, Nigeria. 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Performance of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) and Maize (Zea mays) under Okra/Maize Intercrop as Influenced by Nutrient Sources at Ibadan, Nigeria

Farmers' practice of planting more than one crop under mixed cropping without fertilizer application has been a source of concern in Nigerian agriculture due to inherent low fertility status and fragile nature of the soils. This study was set up to assess the performance of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) and maize (Zea mays) under okra/maize intercrop as influenced by nutrient sources at Ibadan, Nigeria Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) and maize (Zea mays) were each sown as sole and in mixed crop at 1, 2 and 3 seeds hole-1. Fertilizers were used as organic {kola (Kola nitida) pod husks, KPH} applied at 5 and 10 t ha-1 and inorganic (NPK) applied at 80 and 160 kg N ha-1 and control The field experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replicates at Ibadan, Nigeria on 30 April, 2010 for early cropping and 15 August, 2010 for late cropping season. Data obtained included okra plant height, girth, fruit yield and grain yield for maize. The land equivalent ratio (LER), aggressivity and monetary value (MV) were calculated. Okra plant height, girth, fruit and maize grain yield values were significantly higher in sole than in mixed cropping in both early and late cropping seasons. The fertilizers resulted in significantly higher okra performances compared to the control during both cropping seasons. The NPK fertilizer reduced okra yields in the late season compared to the early season, while it increased for KPH fertilizer. Maize grain yield in both seasons was in similar trend to that obtained for okra fruit yield. Planting okra and maize in mixture at 2 plants stand-1resulted to LER values that were generally greater than unity and resulted to 5.7-45-7% of land area saved, with low level of aggressivity and higher monetary value (MV) compared with sole maize and okra. The use of 2-plants stand-1 was optimum for better performance of okra and maize either planted sole or as okra/maize intercrop, while KPH @ 5 tons ha-1 and NPK @ 80 kg N ha-1 were optimal rates for better growth and yield of okra and maize both in monoculture and intercrops