DSpace Collection: Soil Science

Effect of poultry manure sources and levels on yield of cowpea in Minna.

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Effect of poultry manure sources and levels on yield of cowpea in Minna. Authors: Saidu, Z, B; Uzoma, A. O; Eze, P.C; Abubakar, H. B Abstract: A field experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, in the cropping season of 2024 to determine the effect of poultry manure sources and levels on the yield of cowpea. The study was a 2 x 5 x 4 factorial experiment. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatments consisted of two sources of poultry manure (Deep Liter and Battery Cage Poultry systems) at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 t/ha replicated four times. The treatments were applied 2 weeks before planting to ensure proper breakdown of the organic material. The gross plot size was 4m x 4m (16 m2) each, while the net plot size was 45m x 22m (990 m2). Seeds (SAMPEA 20T, Early Maturing and Semi Erect) were planted at the rate of 3 seeds/hill and a spacing of 75cm between the rows and 25cm within the rows and later thinned to 1 plant/stand at 2 weeks after planting (WAP). All plots received a basal dose of N and P at an approved rate of 10kg N/ha and 30kg P/ha. The same quantity of inorganic fertilizer was applied per plot irrespective of the different levels of treatment. Pods were harvested at 12 WAP and sundried. The pods were threshed to separate the grains from the haulm. Data obtained were subjected to Analysis of Variance at a 5% level of probability using Statistix 8.0 statistical software. Duncan multiple range test (DMRT) was used to separate significant differences between means. Results showed that the poultry manure sources did not significantly affect the yield of cowpea. The poultry manure level did not significantly affect the yield parameters. However, the best improvement in yield parameters was observed when 0 t/ha poultry manure was applied regardless of sources. It is therefore recommended that growing SAMPEA 20T with poultry manure should not be encouraged. If, however, there is a need to use poultry manure, the battery cage source should be recommended.

Effects of different nitrogen sources on maize intercropped with soybean on an Alfisols.

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Effects of different nitrogen sources on maize intercropped with soybean on an Alfisols. Authors: Uzoma, A .O; Okolo, Grace, A Abstract: A pot experiment was carried out at the screenhouse of the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Gidan Kwano campus, Minna in the cropping season of 2020. The experiment aimed to evaluate growth and nodulation of soybean intercropped with maize. Two seeds of each crop were planted per pot containing 14 Kg of Gidan Kwano soils. A week after sowing, plants were thinned to a seedling per crop genotype per pot, before basal application of N,P , K , Mg and micronutrients (B, Mo, Zn). Thereafter, the following cropping systems (sole maize, sole soybean, intercropped maize and intercropped soybean) were fertilized as follows: -N as 0 kg N ha-1 (control), + inorganic N (urea) as 20 Kg N ha-1, +organic N (poultry dropping) as 20 Kg N ha-1 and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA 110) as 5mls per plant of rhizobium inoculant. Subsequently, treatments were then arranged in a Completely Randomized Design with three replicates. Watering of plants was done daily till harvest at 6 weeks. Data collected were subjected to ANOVA. Means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Results showed that averagely, sole maize was better than intercropped maize in plant height, the number of leaves and root weight but was significantly higher than intercropped maize in leaf area and shoot weight. Averagely, with the exception of days to 50% flowering and nodule weight, sole soybean was better than intercropped soybean in all the growth and nodulation characteristics measured. The sole soybean performed better when inoculated with elite strains of USDA 110 while the intercropped soybean was better when in association with indigenous rhizobium and 0 Kg N ha-1. Organic nitrogen of poultry source produced the best maize growth trait that was not significantly different as a result of inoculation of soybean with rhizobia.

Influence of integrated nutrient management on selected enzyme activities in relation to selected soil chemical properties in rice field at Badeggi Niger state, Nigeria.

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Influence of integrated nutrient management on selected enzyme activities in relation to selected soil chemical properties in rice field at Badeggi Niger state, Nigeria. Authors: Emmanuel, J; Ezekiel-Adewoyin, D.T; Uzoma, A.O; Osunde, A.O Abstract: Soil enzyme activities provide an easy, relatively rapid and low cost production to monitor soil health. Integrated soil management effect on urease and acid phosphatase activities was determined by collecting soil samples from four (4) rice farmers field in Badeggi, Niger State. Where; Control, Farmers’ practice (NPK); 150 kg ha-1 NPK (15:15:15), OCP special blend; (NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer fortified with Zn and Ca.), 600 kg ha-1, cow dung; (5-ton ha- 1), ½ cow dung + ½ NPK and ½ cow dung + ½ OCP special blend fertilizer were applied accordingly. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated four times. Data were collected according to standard and subjected to Analysis of Variance using GenStat (11th Edition). Significant means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) (p ≤ 0.05). Results showed that Cow dung application consistently resulted in the highest urease activity throughout the growth stages of rice production, indicating its significant role in promoting ammonium volatilization. This was evident with urease activities of 665 µg NH4+ N g-1 soil h-1, 511 µg NH4+ N g-1 soil h-1 and 427 µg NH4+ N g-1 soil h-1 at planting, flowering and at harvest respectively, surpassing all other treatments. Similarly, cow dung application and its combination with NPK and OCP showed notable effect on acid phosphatase activities all through the different growth stages. There was positive relationship between urease activity and pH while it negatively correlated with the other observed nutrients. Whereas, acid phosphatase activity had positive relationship with pH, Organic carbon, Total nitrogen and Available Phosphorus. The observed significant response variation among treatments at different growth stages of rice, highlights the dynamic nature of soil as it influenced the existing microbes (enzyme activity) in the rhizosphere in response to the various soil management practices adopted by farmers. Hence altering soil health and its productivity. Therefore, the use of OCP special blend for improvement of soil available phosphorus should be encouraged while the sole use of cow dung should be discouraged on rice field.

INFLUENCE OF MINERAL NITROGEN-LEVELS AND FOLIAR FERTILIZER ON INOCULATED SOYBEAN NODULATION, GROWTH AND YIELD

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Title: INFLUENCE OF MINERAL NITROGEN-LEVELS AND FOLIAR FERTILIZER ON INOCULATED SOYBEAN NODULATION, GROWTH AND YIELD Authors: Ezekiel-Adewoyin, D. T.; Tanko, F; Shokalu, A. O.; Kayode, C. O.; Makinde, A. I.; Akinlabi, A. E. Abstract: The need for N in Soybean production has been confirmed by so many reseachers; however the need for nutrient supplement at leaf senescence stage to sustain successful seed formation, pod filling and quality seed harvest has not really been reported in the Northern region of Ghana. The influence of N rate and time of application on soybean cultivation has also aggravated a lot of research questions. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of soybean plant height, canopy spread, nodulation, pod formation and grain yield to mineral fertilizer (30 kg P2O5 and K2O each as basal application) with ammonium sulphate as starter N (25kg Nha-1 ), then a top dressing (25 or 50kg Nha-1 ) at mid-vegetative stage, foliar fertilizer (Boost xtra 4 litre ha-1 , at vegetative/early podding stage) and 5 g seed-1 of Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant. The experiment was a Randomized Complete Block Design replicated three times. The results obtained shows that the appropriate timing of N and foliar fertilization could enhance soybean growth and grain yield. Plant height and canopy spread response to the application of initial 25kg Nha-1 was an indication that a minimum level of N is a necessity for soybean establishment. Also soybean pod formation and seed grain were all proofs of significant (P<0.05) influence of the applied treatments on soybean development as compared to the Control. Infact, an impressive grain yield (94% increase) was produced from the plot treated with 50kg Nha-1+BX compared to Control. However, the lowest N-level (25kg Nha-1 ) used as sole and better still it’s combinations with BX or INO and the combination of the three (25kg Nha-1+INO+BX) also gave substantial increase of 50% and above grain yield over the Control. Hence, the use of fertilizer (mineral, foliar and bio-fertilizer) is paramount in augmenting soybean production in the study area. The choice, rate and time of application depend on the farmer’s financial capability.