Economic analysis of soil and associated nutrient loss from gully erosion features in Mubi area, Adamawa State-Nigeria

A study on the economic analysis of soil and associated nutrients conceded to gully erosion at six sublocations within Mubi area, Adamawa state during the 2007 and 2008 wet seasons. Soil and nutrient loss parameters that related to water erosion were studied in the field, alongside determination of some relevant physico-chemical properties in the laboratory. Relative percentages and tables were used to compare the results. The study revealed an alarming estimates of soil mass and associated nutrient loss in both study years. Economic implications appeared disturbing and demands an immediate attention in order to curtail further uncertainties of unbearable colossal soil and nutrient losses, except otherwise managed using suggested conservation measures that could compatibly obliterate the menace in the study area.KEY WORDS: Economic analysis, Soil loss, Nutrient loss, Equivalent weights, Gully erosion, Nigeria

Effect of N, P and FYM rates on DM accumulation and uptake of K, Ca and Mg by Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) in the Northern Guinea Savannah zone of Nigeria

An investigation was conducted during 2005, 2006 and 2007 wet seasons at the experimental farm of the institute of Agricultural Research, Samaru (11o 11ŒN, 07o 38ŒE, 686m above sea level) to study the effect of N, P and farmyard manure (FYM) rates on dry matter (DM) accumulation and uptake of cations by Roselle in the Northern Guinea Savanna agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. The experiment consisted of three levels of N (0, 60 and 120 kg N ha-1)) in the form of urea, three levels of P (0, 13.2 and 26.4 kg P ha-1)) in the form of single super phosphate (SSP) and three levels of FYM (0, 5 and 10 t ha-1). A total of twenty seven  treatments were laid out in a split plot design with three replications. The factorial combinations of N and P were assigned to the main plots, while the FYM was allocated to the sub-plots. The result showed that application of 60 kg N and 5 t FYM ha-1) recorded significant increase in DM accumulation in Roselle, while applied P had no significant effect on DM production. Combined application of 120 kg N ha-1) with 5 t FYM ha-1) was optimum for DM production in Roselle. N application reduced K and Mg content but increased the uptake of the nutrients. Similarly, FYM reduced K and Ca content of shoots, while the uptake of these nutrients was increased by manure application. P application increased K and Mg, but reduced Ca contents of shoots. Application of P did not however exert significant effect (P<0.05) on the K and Mg uptake, but reduced Ca uptake of Roselle. Further trial of N application at higher rates is recommended in the study area.KEY WORDS: DM Accumulation, FYM, Nutrients, Multiproduct, Roselle, and gZoborodo