Advances in intergrated nutrient management for crop production in Nigeria

The work is a review of recent developments in utilization of organic and organomineral fertilizers in Nigeria. Integrated crop nutrition entails combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizers to avoid problems associated with sole use of the two sources. The aim is also to reduce need and cost associated with sole use of either source of plant nutrients. Researches conducted on effectiveness of organomineral fertilizers show the following: Organomineral fertilizers (OMF) gave similar or higher crop yield compared with recommended NPK fertilizer. They also improved nutritional quality and nutrient content and had residual effect than inorganic fertilizer. The OMF also had liming effect. The OMF reduced need for both organic and inorganic fertilizers which had synergistic effect on each other The OMF improved soil physical properties compared with inorganic fertilizers as indicated by reduction in bulk density, temperature and conservation of soil moisture. The OMF improved soil organic matter, nutrient content and increased availability of cations compared with I norganic fertilizer. Organic wastes that were found to be effective in increasing soil nutrients contents, pH, nutrient uptake by crops and were successfully combined with inorganic fertilizers such as NPK, urea at reduced rates include poultry manure, oil palm bunch ash, cocoa pod ash, kola pod ash and sawdust ash. The pacesetter and sunshine organic and organomineral fertilizers developed and manufactured in Nigeria have been found to be effective in improving soil fertility, and yield of arable and tree crops.There are abundant organic wastes that could be used alone or combined with mineral fertilizers. The presence of organic manures in organomineral fertilizers ensures more residual effect, balanced nutrition and improvement in soil physicochemical properties. The use of two sources has synergistic effect and reduces expenditure on scarce and expensive mineral fertilizers. it is a sustainable approach to ensuring high soil productivity and crop yield.Nigerian Journal of Technological Researc

Evaluation of some soils of the forest zone of Southeast Nigeria for soyabean production

Laboratory and pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the suitability of some soils of the forest zone of southeastern Nigeria or soyabean production. Soil samples were collected from Elele, Ahoada, Okigwe, Bende, Ohadia, Isiala-Ngwa, Umudike, Akwete, Owerri and Uyo and analyzed for some chemical parameters. The pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the yield of soyabean in the different soil types. A randomized complete block design with ten replications was used for the study. The results obtained showed that some of the soils were suitable for soyabean production. The soil suitability ranking was in the order: Elele>Ahoada>Isiala-Ngwa>Uyo>Bende and Ohafia>Okigwe and Akwete>Owerri, while productivity ranking was in the order: Ahoada>Isiala-Ngwa>Elele>Okigwe>Ohafia>Bende>Uyo>Akwete>Owerri. Grain yield ranged from 3.75g/pot in Owerri to 14.63g/pot in Ahoada. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol. 15 2005: 129-13

Comparative effectiveness of different levels of poultry manure with NPK fertilizer on residual soil fertility, nutrient uptake and yield of maize

The comparative effectiveness of residual effects of 300 kg/ha NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer, 7t/ha poultry manure (Pm), five combinations of reduced levels of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer and poultry manure, and control (no fertilizer) on soil and plant nutrient uptake and maize yield were investigated in a field trial during the 1996 and 1997 second cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (7o 16” N, 5 o 12”E), Nigeria. The soil type of the trial site was lowly fertile loamy sand. Application of poultry manure, and combinations of poultry manure with NPK fertilizer gave high residual effects on soil chemical composition and increased plant height, leaf area, dry matter yield, plant nutrient uptake and grain yield of maize significantly. Residual effects of poultry manure, and combined application of reduced quantities of poultry manure and NPK fertilizer gave higher soil organic matter, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and micro-elements contents compared to application of 300 kg/ha NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer and control. The residual effects of 3t/ha poultry manure plus 200kg/ha NPK fertilizer and 7t/ha poultry manure produced non-significantly different values. However, the 7t/ha poultry manure had the best residual effects on maize yield and soil fertility. The 3t/ha poultry manure plus 200kg/ha NPK fertilizer is recommended as substitute for 7t/ha poultry manure or 300kg/ha NPK fertilizer. Key words:Poultry manure; NPK fertilizer; residual soil fertility; nutrient uptake; maize yield Moor Journal of Agricultural Research Vol.4(2) 2003: 191-19

Comparative effect of ridge furrow and zero tillage on cowpea at Abeokuta and Akure, Nigeria

Trials were carried out to compare effect of different seedbeds on cowpea at Abeokuta and Akure in different microclimates of Nigeria. The values of selected soil physical properties, plant nutrient status and growth and yield of cowpea given by zero tillage, manual clearing, ridge top, ridge side, ridge base, and furrow were compared. At Abeokuta with drier microclimate, coarser and denser soil, seedbed type significantly influenced cowpea yield. Root growth, number of leaves, grain yield and leaf P and K were grater at side and top of ridge with lower soil bulk density values. The furrow with highest soil bulk density had least grain yield. Cowpea grown at ridge base and on untilled manually cleared and zero tillage soils with relatively high soil densities had lower grain yield. Seedbed did not influence cowpea yield at Akure with less dense and coarse soil, and more humid climate. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol. 15 2005: 54-5

Response of ground nut yield and nutrient status totillage and wood ash

No Abstract.Nigeria Agricultural Journal Vol. 36 2005: pp. 80-8

Effect of poultry manure, NPK 15-15-15 and combination of their reduced levels on maize growth and soil chemical properties

The comparative effects of 300kg/ha NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer, 7t/ha poultry manure (Pm), six combinations of reduced levels of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer and poultry manure, and control (no fertilizer) on maize growth, nutrients uptake and soil chemical properties were investigated for two years at Akure, South West Nigeria. Application of poultry manure, and combination of poultry manure and or NPK fertilizer significantly increased soil chemical composition, maize plant dry matter yield, grain yield, plant height, leaf area and nutrients uptake. The highest grain yields were obtained with combined use of NPK fertilizer and poultry manure in 1996 and 1997. The highest values were recorded with combined use of 3t/ha poultry manure and 200kg/ha NPK fertilizer with respect to dry matter yield, grain yield and nutrients uptake in both years. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol. 15 2005: 34-4

Effect of sole and amended plant residues on soil nutrient contents and yield Okra(Abelmoschus esculentum)

No Abstract.Discovery and Innovation Vol. 18 (4) 2006: pp. 318-32

Evaluation of soil and maize performance in ridge and untilled seedbeds at Akure, Southwest, Nigeria

No Abstract. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol. 16 (1) 2006: pp. 131-13

Effect of tillage and fertilizer on soil chemical properties, leaf nutrient content and yield of soyabean in the Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria

No Abstract. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol. 16 (1) 2006: pp. 126-13

Responses of Amaranths and soil properties to Rotavation, conventional, manual and no-tillage on a tropical-Haplustalf

No Abstract. JARD Vol. 3 2004: pp.141-14