Vol 2- Continental J. Agronomy

8/9/2019 Vol 2- Continental J. Agronomy

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Continental J. Agronomy 2: 1 - 7, 2008

Wilolud Online Journals, 2008.

EFFECT OF METALAXYL AND NEEM SEED OIL ON THE INCIDENCE OF DOWNY MILDEW OF

PEARL MILLET

1Aliyu, B.,

2Hati, S. S.,

3Donli, P.O. and

4Anaso, A. B.

1Department of Biological Sciences,

2Department of Chemistry, Gombe State University, Gombe

3Department of Biological Sciences,

4Department of Crop Science, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri

ABSTRACT

Millet is one of the most important staple food crops in Africa and India. The grain

yield losses as a result of downy mildew disease varied from 10 to 50% annually.

This study was aimed at determining the effect of seed treatment with metalaxyl

either alone or in combination with neem seed oil foliar sprays on the incidence of

pearl millet downy mildew. Field trials were carried out in 2006 and 2007 growing

seasons. Split - plot design was employed with four categories of chemical treatments

and three varieties of pearl millet (SOSAT-C88, EX-Borno and GB8735). The

treatments were in triplicates. The results of the study showed that incidence of

downy mildew on vegetative shoots of pearl millet differed significantly (p


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Aliyu, B et al: Continental J. Agronomy 2: 1 - 7, 2008

Wheeler (1979) reported that downy mildew is controlled chiefly by cultural methods, by sprayingfungicides and by planting less susceptible varieties. It is, however, by the application of fungicides that

the most practical control of this disease had been achieved. Anaso et al. (1989) reported that maize downy

mildew is successfully controlled by seed treatment with metalaxyl and host resistance. Nene and Singh

(1976) noted that two methods of chemical control of pearl millet downy mildew had been attempted, one

was treatment of seed with fungicide to control seed borne inocula and the second method was the use of

foliar sprays to control secondary spread.

Metalaxyl is a known fungicide for seed treatment to control downy mildew, its action is systemic and

contains benzenoid (phenylamide), used in mixtures as a foliar spray for tropical and subtropical crops, as a

soil treatment for control of soil-borne pathogens, and as a seed treatment to control downy mildews

(Kimmel, et al, 1986). Similarly, neem oil, a vegetable oil pressed from the fruits and seeds of neem

(Azadirachta indica), have scientifically been validated for many of its traditional uses to treat bacterial,

fungal, and viral infections, including its use as pesticides (Schmutterer, 2002). The neem tree is found in

abundance in northern Nigeria and the seeds oil is thought to be very likely to effectively control downy

mildew of pearl millet. The neem seed oil is known to contain nearly 100 protolimonoids, limonoids or

tetranortriterpenoids, pentanortriterpenoids, hexanortriterpenoids and some nonterpenoid constituents.

Different batches contain from 1700 ppm azadirachtin to 2500 ppm azadirachtin as the active ingredients.

The oil contains small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other nutrients. It also contains the

following fatty acids - Palmitic acid 19.4%, Stearic acid 21.2%, Oleic acid 42.1%, Linoleic acid 14.9% and

Arachidic acid 1.4% (Conrick and Schmutterer, 2004).

In northern Nigeria, pearl millet is regarded as second only to sorghum in importance. The grain is used in

a variety of traditional foods such as fura, biski, masa, yartsala, tuwo, kunu, burukutu and

pito. Its production supercedes that of sorghum because of its outstanding ability to withstand drought, its

early maturing advantages over other crops and it is the first grain crop grown by farmers in Northern

Nigeria in anticipation of early grain for consumption when other reserved grain become exhausted

(Nwasike et al., 1983). In view of the decreasing level of production emanating from the constraintsalready highlighted, it was therefore considered essential to carry out a study that would assess the

potentials of seed treatment with metalaxyl and neem seed oil either alone or in combination with neem

seed oil as foliar sprays on the incidence of pearl millet downy mildew for the control of this disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Metalaxyl and Neem Seed Oil

Metalaxyl fungicide in Apron XL-LS brand manufactured by Syngenta Crop Protection Canada, Inc. was

obtained and used in this study. This brand formulation is about 33.3% metalaxyl-M (mefenoxam)

formulated as a liquid for use as a seed treatment in a container size: 1L, 5L and 55L

Neem oil was obtained from extraction according to method described by Kaura et al (1998). Petroleum

ether (bp 60-80C) was used as extraction solvent, which was recovered from filtrate by ordinary

distillation at 70C, further in rotary vacuum evaporator placed on a water bath for 20 hours at 60-70C.After extraction the neem oil was diluted with different amount of liquid paraffin to obtain different

concentrations of extracts.

Pearl Millet Seeds

Millet varieties, SOSAT-C88, Ex-Borno and GB 8735 used in this study were obtained from the

germplasm bank of Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri.

Experimental Site

The experiment was conducted during 2006 and 2007 cropping seasons in Maiduguri (Latitude 11051' N;

130

15'E) at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture,

University of Maiduguri.


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The experimental site is a sandy loam and has been classified as typic ustipsamment. The mean annualrainfall range between 40 and 250mm with an annual average temperature ranges from 20-43oC. The area

has been cropped with millet for the several years ensuring build up of disease inoculum. Natural

epiphytotic in field was therefore relied upon as the source of inoculum in each season. The split - plot

design was employed in this study.

Chemical Treatments

Chemical treatments of the pear millets were made in four categories:

1. Metalaxyl (0.4g) per 50g millet treatment prior to planting,2. Metalaxyl (0.4g) per 50g millet treatment prior to planting + neem oil ( 0.3kg foliar spray)3. Neem oil (0.3kg) foliar spray based on fungal LD50 (Schmutterer, 2002) and4. Control (neither metalaxyl nor neem seed oil)

The neem oil was dispensed using electrodyn sprayer on non rainy days. Triplicate plots treatments

comprised three varieties namely, SOSAT-C88, Ex-Borno and GB 8735.

Cultural Practices and Management

The site was harrowed, disked and leveled before marking out the plots. The main plots were 12 X 4.0 m

(48 m2) each and separated by 1m from each other were assigned to the chemical treatments (Fungicides).

The sub-plot of 4 X 4 m (16 m2) and spaced at 0.5m comprised the three millet varieties.

The seeds were sown when the rains established at rate of ten seeds per hole and spaced at 75 X 30 cm

between rows and within rows, respectively. At three weeks after sowing during the first weeding plants

were thinned to two plants per stand.

Fertilizers were applied at the recommended rates of 60kg/N/ha, 30kg P2O5/ha and 30kg K2O/ha (Anaso,

1989). At planting, basal dose of NPK (15:15:15) at the rate of 48g N, 48g, P2O5 and 48g K2O were

applied respectively to each plot. The remaining dose of 48gN was applied at six weeks after sowing bythe side placement method. Weeds were controlled manually using hoes on the third and the sixth weeks

after sowing. Harvest was done manually at maturity using cutlass. The plants were cut at their bases and

placed in their respective plots for further drying after which the panicles were cut and threshed.

Parameters Measured

Millet stands in each plot were counted and recorded at 56 days after sowing. Grain yields for all treatments

were obtained after harvesting, sun-drying, threshing and winnowing. They were then weighed on a

Mettler balance (0-10kg) and yields per plot determined. The yields were later converted to kg/ha. The

number and weight of panicles per plot were determined.

Downy Mildew Incidence on Vegetative Shoot

Infected main stems and basal tillers plants were counted at 56 days after sowing (DAS) and downy mildew

incidence was computed as the number of diseased main stand or basal tillers expressed as percentage ofthe total number of main stands or basal tillers assessed according to James (1983) as follows:

Downy mildew incidence (%) = Number of diseased plants/plot Total number of plants/plot 100

Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), using Microsoft Excel (2003). Variations

of results were considered significant at p


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Among the fungicides applied the combination of metalaxyl and neem oil spray and metalaxyl alonesignificantly (P


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Table 3: Interaction of variety and fungicide on grain yield of pearl millet in Maiduguri during the 2007growing season

Number of panicles

Variety Neem oil spray

(NOS)

Apron XL-LS NOS + Apron XL-

LS

Control

SOSAT-C88 1683121.4 2006154.7 2567176.3 115088.2

Ex-Borno 113056.3 1295113.4 1427132.2 107066.2

GB8735 72312.5 1113102.1 121779.9 70010.3

The production of panicle and grain yield was significantly influenced by the application of fungicide

(Table 2). Plants treated with metalaxyl and metalaxyl + neem oil spray showed increased panicle size and

grain yield than those received neem oil spray and the check.

The interaction effects of variety and fungicide on grain yield was significant (Table 3). The variety

(SOSAT-C88) that produced the highest yield did so when treated with the combination of metalaxyl and

neem oil spray. A general increase in yield of the other varieties was also observed. The most susceptible

variety to downy mildew was GB8735.

DISCUSSION

The fact that three varieties of pearl millet showed varied responses to downy mildew attack in the area of

study confirmed the influence of genotype difference, which is a factor in choosing germplasms for

cultivation. The variety SOSAT-C88 showed comparatively higher resistance to downy mildew than EX-Borno and GB8735. Varietals differences in pearl millet have also been reported (Rathi and Panwar, 1997;

Singh et al., 1993).This study revealed that infection was higher at the basal tillers than on the main stems.

This could be due to the proximity of tillers to soil where if contaminated may be a readily source of

infection.

Metalaxyl is still an effective fungicide against downy mildew in pearl millet from this study and the report

of Williams and Singh (1981). However, supplementing metalaxyl with neem oil spray would generally

increase grain yield.

In pearl millet growing areas where there is infestation of downy mildew the variety SOSAT-C88 should

be used with the application of metalaxyl + neem oil spray for a better return on cost of production. There

is still the need to develop highly resistant varieties against downy mildew so that the extra cost of

fungicide would be reduced if not eliminated.

REFERENCES

Anaso, A.B. (1989): Variety selection and planting strategies of maize for control of sorghum downy

mildew inNigeria Guinea Savanna Applied Agricultural Research3: 196-200.

Anaso, A. B, Emechebe A. M., Tyagi, P. D. and Manzo, S. K. (1989): Assessment in yield due to sorghum

downy mildew of maize in Nigeria Guinea Savanna Tropical Pest Management301-303.

Conrick, J. and H. Schmutterer (2004): The Neem Tree : The Ultimate Herb. The Neem Foundation web

site www.neemfoundation.org (access date: 23/11/2007)

Food Agricultural Organization (FOA) (1985): Production Year Book. Rome, Italy 2-15.

James, W. C. (1983): Crop loss assessment pages 130-143 in plant pathologist pocket book 2nd

edition ( A.

Johnston and C. Booth Eds) Commonwealth Mycological Institute Kew.


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Kaura, S. K., S. K. Gupta

and J. B. Chowdhury

(1998 ): Morphological and oil content variation in seedsof Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Neem) from northern and western provenances of India. Plant Foods for

Human Nutrition. 52 (4): 293-298

Kimmel, E. C., J. E. Casida and L. O. Ruzo (1986): Formamidine Insecticides and ChloroacetanilideHerbicides: Disubstituted Anilines and Nitrobenzenes as Mammalian Metabolites and Bacterial Mutagents,

J. Agri Food Chem 34:157-161.

King, S. B. and Webster, O. J. (1970): Downy mildew of sorghum in Nigeria India Phytopathology

4: 212-319.

Microsoft Excel (2003): Microsoft Office Excel 2003 (11.5612.5606)

http://support.microsoft.com/international.aspx. USA.

National Research Council (NRC) (1996): Lost crops of Africa vol. 1 Grains National Academy Press

Washington D.C. 36: 1-12.

Nene, Y. L. and Singh, S. D. (1976): Downy mildew and ergot of pearl millet, pest Africa and News

Summaries Darker 22 (3): 366-385.

Nwasike, C. C., E. F. I. Baker and P. N. Egharevba (1983): The Potential for Improving Millet (Pennisetum

typhoides) in farming systems of the Semi Arid Areas of Nigeria. Agriculture and Environment 7: 15-21.

Rai, K. N. and Kumar, K. A. (1994): Pearl millet improvement at ICRISAT an Update International

sorghum and millets Newsletter 35: 1-29.

Rathi, A. S. and Panwar, M. S. (1997): Downy Mildew reactions of pearl millet varieties andparents.International Sorghum and Millets News LetterNo. 38, 128-130.

Schmutterer, H. (2002): The Neem Tree: Source of Unique Natural Products for Integrated Pest

Management, Medicine, Industry And Other Purposes (Hardcover),2nd Edition, Weinheim,Germany: VCH

Verlagsgesellschaft .ISBN 3-527-30054-6 P. 23-42

Singh, S. D., Balls, S. L. and Thakur, D. P. (1987): Problems and strategies in the control of downy

mildew ( a review article). Proceedings of the International Pearl millet Workshop International Crops

Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru AP (India) 161-172.

Singh, S. D., King, S. B. and Werder, J. (1993): Downy mildew disease of pearl millet. International

Bulletin International crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (India) 37: 25-35.

Thakur, R.P. and King, S. B. (1988). Downy mildew disease of pearl millet, Information Bulletin No.2

International Crops Research Institute of Semi-Arid Tropics India 5-17.

Waller, J. M. and Ball, S. L. (1983): Interaction Between pearl millet varieties and Sclerospora

graminicola. Plenum Press London. 5-20.

Wheeler, B. E. J. (1979): An introduction to Plant Disease Imperial College London, 12 : 350-373.

Williams, R. J. (1984): Downy mildew of tropical cereals. Advance in Plant Pathology 2: 1-03.

Williams, R. J. and Singh S. D. (1981): Control of pearl millet downy mildew by seed treatment with

metalaxyl. Annals of Applied Biology 97: 263-268.


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Received for Publication: 07/05/2008Accepted for Publication: 24/05/2008

Corresponding Author:

Aliyu, B.

Department of Biological Sciences, Gombe State University, P.M.B. 127, Gombe, Nigeria

[email protected]


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INCORPORATION OF SOLE AND AMENDED AGRO-INDUSTRIAL BIOMASS FOR SOIL BULK

DENSITY AND POPOSITY IMPROVEMENT, ROOT GROWTH AND POD YIELD OF OKRA

(Abelmoschus esculentum Moench L)

E.I. Moyin Jesu

Agronomy Department, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

An investigation was carried out in Akure, Nigeria on the effect of sole and fortified

agro-industrial biomass for improving soil bulk density and porosity improvement,

root growth and pod yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentum L)

The 20 organic fertilizer treatments were compared to chemical fertilizers (NPK 15-

15-15 fertilizer ) and a control (no fertilizer; no manure), replicated four times and

arranged in a randomized complete block design.

The results showed that the application of 6/ha of agro-industrial biomass in sole

forms or fortified with goat, pig and poultry manure increased significantly (P


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E.I. Moyin Jesu : Continental J. Agronomy 2: 8 - 18, 2008

Aina et al (1985) reported that soil parameters known to affect the mechanical impedance included soiltexture, bulk density and moisture content. The effect of soil compaction which commonly results from

cultural practices such as continuous land clearing and tillage practices expose soils to deterioration of its

organic matter and loss of essential nutrients for crop growth. Impedance to crop seedlings growth

increases with soil bulk density.

Aina (1979) reported that as a result of diminished soil organic matter during a ten year continuous

cultivation of an Iwo soil S. W. Nigeria, there was a considerable reduction in soil aggregation, porosity,

hydraulic conductivity and increased bulk density. The ultimate consequence was decline in soil fertility.

Obi and Ofoduru (1997) reported that the use of mineral fertilizers such as NPK, Urea and Ammonium

sulphate led to degradation of physical qualities of soils caused by low organic matter levels. This was

supported by Zake (1973) who stated that a single heavy dose of soluble fertilizers might not work in the

low activity clay soils, and they required an organic matter to impart appropriate chemical, physical and

biological properties.

Although, the effects of bulk density and soil moisture regime on soil compaction and crop growth have

been reported for some Nigerian soils (Ultisol and Oxisols) especially from the approach of tillage practice.

(Ojeniyi, 1985 and, Lal, and Maurya, 1979). However, there is scarcity of research information on the use

of agro-industrial biomass such as cocoa hush, woodash, sawdust, ricebran and spentgrain (brewery

waste) applied in sole or amended with goat, pig and poultry manures for reducing soil bulk density,

increasing porosity, root development and yield of okra.

Therefore, the objectives are to determine the influence of agro-industrial wastes (Sole and amended forms)

for soil bulk density and porosity improvement, root development and pod yield of okra (Abelmoschus

esculentum Moench L).

MATERIALS AND METHODSThe experiments were carried out at Akure (7 N

1, 5

110 E) in the rain forest zone of Nigeria in 1998 and

1999 on the same site. The soil is a sandy loam, skeletal, kaolinitic, isohyperthermic oxic paleustaff

(Alfisol) or ferric Luvisol (FAO). The annual rainfall is 1300mm, a temperature of 70 F and relative

humidity of 80%.

Determination of soil physical properties before planting

The physical properties of soils on the site were determined before field experiments. The soil bulk

density (g/cm) was determined by steel core method. Ojeniyi (1985). The bulk density was calculated from

the mass of the soil and the displaced volume of the water through the rate ofupthrust.

The % porosity was calculated from the values of bulk density. The mechanical analysis of the soil was

done by the hydrometer method. Bouycous (1951).

Collection, Processing and Chemical analysis of the organic materials.

The goat, pig and poultry manures were collected from the livestock section of Federal College of

Agriculture, Akure. The woodash, cocoa pod husk and ricebran were collected from the cassava

processing unit, cocoa plantations and rice mill at Federal College of Agriculture, Akure. The spentgrain

and sawdust were collected from international Breweries Plc, Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria and nearby sawmill

industry in Akure respectively.

The organic materials were processed to allow decomposition. The dried cocoa pod husk was ground using

hammer mill, woodash was sieved to remove burnt charcoal and pebbles. The spentgrain, ricebran and

cocoa husk were each partially composted separately. The pig, goat and poultry manures were stacked

individually to allow quick mineralisation processes.


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The processed forms of the organic materials were analysed. The nutrient contents in the organic materialswere determined using wet digestion method based on 25-5-5ml of HNO3-H2 S O4-HCIO4 acids. The

filtrates collected, were evaluated for the C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na contents and micronutrients (AOAC,

1970).

Field Experiment

The land was cleared, ploughed and harrowed. The soil was under arable crops for 10 years. The four field

experiments were conducted on the early and late crops in 1998 and 1999 at the same site and each

experiment spanned for four months.

Twenty organic fertilizer treatments, sole or amended were applied to each crop of okra, a reference

treatment NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer (400kg/ha) and the control treatment (no manure, no fertilizer).

The five agro-industrial biomass were woodash, ground cocoa husk, ricebran, spentgrain (sorghum based

brewery waste) and sawdust. The materials were applied sole at 6tha and each plant residues was

combined with goat, pig and poultry manure at the rate of 3tha each.

The 22 treatments were replicated four times on each of the four consecutive okra crops and arranged in a

randomized complete block design while the size of each of the plots was 4mx4m (16m2)

The sole and amended residues were incorporated into the soil ten days before planting okra seeds using

garden fork to allow easy decomposition. Four seeds of early maturing okra variety (NHAe-47-4) were

planted per hole of 2cm deep at a spacing of 60x30cm. Germination took place five days planting and later

thinned to one plant per stand.

The plots were manually weeded thrice starting from the second, fifth and seventh weeks after planting.

The insect pests were controlled by spraying vetox 85 at the rate of 28g a.i in 9Lt of water starting from

second week after planting (WAP).

Harvest of the mature pods started at 40 days after planting and it continued at every four days interval until

senenscence The total weight of harvested pods were determined (kg/ha) and at the end of each

experiment, all the okra plants were uprooted and seminal root lengths were determined.

Soil Physical properties after the experiment

At end of each experiment on okra, soil bulk density and % porosity wee determined for each treatment

plot as described earlier.

Statistical analysis of the date

The data recorded for the bulk density, % porosity, root length and yields of four crops of okra were

analysed using ANOVA F-test and their means were separated using the Duncan Multiple Range Test

(DMRT) at 5% level. Simple linear correlations relationship between the soil bulk density, root length andyield of okra were also presented.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Determination of physical properties before planting

The data on the soil physical properties such as soil bulk density, % porosity, % sand, silt and clay were

presented in Table 1. The soils used for the cultivation of okra have sandy loam texture with high

proportion of sand and this would adversely affect the growth of crops because of probable low water and

nutrient retention capacities. Hence, relatively poor growth of okra on soils not treated with organic

industrial biomass.

The high soil bulk density values affected the soil porosity, root growth and yield of okra in the control

treatment as well as contributing to low organic matter status of the soils. This finding agreed with that of


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Ojeniyi, 1985 who reported that there was a strong relationship between soil bulk density and organicmatter status in a soil.

Analysis of the chemical composition for agro-industrial biomass

Table 2 presents the chemical composition of the agro-industrial biomass used for the cultivation of okra.

The agro-industrial biomass such as woodash, ricebran, cocoa husk, spentgrain and sawdust have lower

values of plant nutrients such as N and P compared to the poultry, pig and goat manure, hence, they have

high C/N ratio and are expected to decompose more slowly. Thus, a combination of the animal manure and

plant residues are expected to improve their effectiveness in reducing soil bulk density values, increased

soil porosity, root growth and yield of okra.

Ricebran and sawdust have relatively high C:N compared with cocoa husk, woodash and spentgrain,

therefore, they are expected to be less efficient in returning plant nutrients and organic matter for the

reduction in soil bulk density, improved root growth and yield of okra.

Effect of agro-industrial biomass on the soil bulk density, porosity, root growth and yield of okra.

The data on the soil bulk density values (Table 3), soil porosity (Table 4), root growth (Table 5) and pod

weight of okra (Table 6) under the different agro-industrial biomass were presented. The sole and amended

agro-industrial biomass increased significantly (P


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tropical soils is associated with maintenance and improvement of soil physical characteristics which can befurther improved by the use of organic fertilizers.

RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

Agro-industrial biomass such as woodash, cocoa husk and spentgrain when used ordinarily or fortified with

pig, goat and poultry manure are very effective sources of improving the soil porosity, root development

and pod weight of okra and reduced bulk density. Sawdust and ricebran were less effective.

It is, therefore, recommended that sole and fortified agro-industrial biomass such as woodash, spentgrain

and cocoa husk applied at 6t/ha are very useful organic fertilizers for improving soil porosity, root

development ad pod weight of okra and reduced soil bulk density. The use of sole and amended spentgrain

was particularly the best in improving soil porosity, root growth and pod yield of okra and reduced soil

bulk density.

This recommendation is very important because continuous use of inorganic fertilizers for soil fertility

improvement is accompanied by destruction of soil physical properties, besides, such fertilizers are very

expensive and scarce beyond the scope of poor resources farmers who are still the major producers of food

in tropical countries of Africa, Asia and so forth.

REFERENCES

Aina, P. O. (1979): Soil changes resulting from long term management practices in Western Nigeria, Soil

Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 43: 173-177.

Aina, P. O., Fapohunda H. O. and Idowu J. (1985): Compaction and moisture effects on soil strength and

crop emergence. Ife Journal of Agric. Vol. 7Nos 1 & 2 : 16-25.

A.O.A.C., (1970): Official method of analysis 12th edition. Association of official Analytical ChemistWashington, D. C. U. S. A.

Bouycous, H. (1951): Mechanical analysis of soils using hydrometer method. Anal. chem. Acta 22: 32 -

34.

Lal, R and Marya, P.R. (1979): Effects of bulk density and moisture on radicle elongation of some tropical

crops, pp 337-347. In R. Lal and D. J. Greenland (eds). Soil physical properties and crop production in the

tropics John Wiley and Sons 551pp.

Obi, M. E. and Ofoduru, C. O. (1997): The effects of soil amendments on soil physical properties of a

severely degraded sandy loam soil in south-eastern Nigeria. 23rd

Annual Conf. Soil Sci. Soc. Of Nigeria

held in Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto March 2-7, 1997 pp 6-9.

Ojeniyi, S. O. (1985): Effect of replacement grass and forest with tree crops on Nigeria soil textural and

chemical properties. A paper presented at International Conference on soil fertility, soil tilth and post

clearing land degradation in the humid tropics held at University of Ibadan, Ibadan Nigeria July 21-26,

1985.

Woomer P. L. and Muchens, F. N. (1993): Overcoming soil constraints in crop production in tropical

Africa. Sustaining soil productivity in intensive Africa Agriculture. Wageningen. CTA, 1993, seminar

proceedings Accra (Ghana). November 10-17, 1993 pp45.


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Zake, J. Y. L. (1993): Overcoming soil constraints of crop production. In sustaining soil productivity inintensive African agriculture, Wageningen CTA, 1993, seminar proceedings, Accra, Ghana, Nov. 15 -19,

1993 pp 57-61.

Received for Publication: 15/06/2008

Accepted for Publication: 05/07/2008


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TABLE 3: The effect of plant residues plus manure on soil bulk density (g/cm

3

) under the four crop ofOkra

S/N TREATMENTS 1ST

2ND

3RD

4TH

5TH

1. Control (No fertilizer) 1.68n 1.68d 1.66r 1.67p 1.671

2. NPK 15-15-15 1.61m 1.62n 1.59q 1.60o 1.61k

3. Wood Ash (Sole) 1.54ij 1.48gh 1.43hi 1.35q 1.45de

4. Wood Ash + Goat Dung 1.52gh 1.45de 1.38d 1.33ef 1.42cd

5. Wood Ash + pig Dung 1.50ef 1.46ef 1.36c 1.31d 1.41c

6. Wood Ash + poultry Manure 1.49de 1.44cd 1.39de 1.32de 1.41c

7. Cocoa Husk (Sole) 1.53hi 1.50l 1.46k 1.41l 1.48fg

8. Cocoa Husk + Goat Dung 1.51fg 1.48gh 1.44ij 1.40hi 1.46ef

9. Cocoa Husk + pig Dung 1.49de 1.47fg 1.42gh 1.39h 1.44d

10. Cocoa Husk + Poultry Manure 1.48cd 1.46ef 1.41fg 1.40hi 1.44d

11. Rice Bran (Sole) 1.56kl 1.53kl 1.51op 1.48n 1.52j

12. Rice Bran + Goat Dung 1.54ij 1.51ij 1.49mn 1.45lm 1.50hi

13. Rice Bran + pig Dung 1.53hi 1.51ij 1.48lm 1.42j 1.49gh

14 Rice Bran + poultry Manure 1.51fg 1.50l 1.47kl 1.45lm 1.47f

15. Spent Grain (Sole) 1.48cd 1.44cd 1.40ef 1.31d 1.41c

16. Spent Grain + Goat Dung 1.46b 1.42b 1.36c 1.29bc 1.38h

17. Spent Grain + pig Dung 1.47bc 1.43bc 1.32a 1.28b 1.38b

18. Spent Grain + poultry 1.43a 1.39a 1.34b 1.26a 1.36a

Manure

19. Saw Dust (Sole) 1.55jk 1.54lm 1.50no 1.48n 1.52j

20. Saw Dust + Goat Dung 1.53hi 1.52jk 1.49mn 1.43jk 1.49gh

21. Saw Dust + pig Dung 1.53gh 1.51ij 1.47kl 1.44kl 1.49gh

22. Saw Dust + Poultry 1.54ij 1.50l 1.48lm 1.45lm 1.49gh

Manure

Treatment means within each group or column followed by the same letters are not significantly different

from each other using DMRT at 5% level.


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16


Table 4: The effect of agro-industrial biomass on % soil porosity under the four crops of Okra.

S/N Treatments 1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Mean

1. Control (No fertilizer 39.00a 39.00a 39.64a 39.27a 39.23a

2. NPK 15-15-15 41.46b 41.09b 42.18b 41.82b 41.64b

3 Wood Ash (sole) 33.00c 46.18d 48.00gh 50.91i 47.27f

4. Wood Ash + Goat Dung 44.73cd 47.27f 49.82jk 51.64j 48.37h

5. Wood Ash + Pig Dung 45.46de 46.91ef 50.55l 52.36k 48.82i

6. Wood Ash + Poultry Manure 45.82e 47.64fg 49.46ij 52.00jk 48.73hi

7. Cocoa Husk (Sole) 44.36cd 45.46de 46.91f 48.73f 46.37e

8. Cocoa Husk + Goat Dung 45.09d 46.18d 47.64g 49.09fg 47.00f

9. Cocoa Husk + pig Dung 45.82e 46.55e 48.36h 49.46gh 47.55fg

10. Cocoa Husk + Poultry Dung 46.18d 46.91ef 48.73hi 49.09fg 47.73g

11. Rice Bran (Sole) 43.27c 44.36c 45.09c 46.18c 44.73c

12. Rice Bran + Goat Dung 44.00c 45.09d 45.82d 47.27d 45.55d

13. Rice Bran + Pig Dung 44.36cd 45.09d 46.18e 48.36ef 46.00e

14. Rice Bran + Poultry manure 45.09d 45.46de 46.55ef 47.27d 46.09e

15. Spent Grain (Sole) 46.18ef 47.64fy 49.09i 52.36k 48.82i

16. Spent Grain + Goat Dung 46.91fg 48.36gh 50.55l 53.09l 49.73j

17. Spent Grain + Pig Dung 46.55f 48.00g 52.00n 53.46lm 50.00j

18. Spent Grain + Poultry manure 48.00h 49.46i 51.27m 54.18n 50.73k

19. Saw Dust (Sole) 43.64c 44.00c 45.46cd 46.18c 44.82c

20. Saw Dust + Goat Dung 44.36cd 44.73cd 45.82d 49.00e 45.73d

21. Saw Dust + Pig Dung 44.73cd 45.09d 46.55ef 47.64de 46.00e

22. Saw Dust + Poultry manure 44.00c 45.46de 46.18e 47.27d 45.73d

Treatment means within each group or column followed by the same letters are not significantly

different from each other using DMRT at 5% level.


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17


Table 5: The effects of plant residues plus manure on the root length (cm) under four crops of

Okra.

S/N. Treatment 1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Mean

1. Control (No fertilizer) 8.52a 8.46a 8.47a 8.65a 8.53a

2. NPK 15-15-15 28.652m 29.608j 31.136h 56.788ij 30.30n

3. Wood Ash (Sole) 15.54ef 23.07f 29.877g 29.914e 24.60fg

4. Wood Ash + Goat Dung 19.512h 29.134j 37.691m 38.042j 31.09op

5. Wood Ash + pig Dung 17.666g 26.464h 34.309l 34.446hi 28.24hl

6. Wood Ash + Poultry 21.472jk 32.244l 41.759o 41.956l 34.36r

manure

7. Cocoa Husk (Sole) 12.536c 18.804c 24.445c 24.476cd 20.06d

8. Cocoa Husk + Goat Dung 15.044e 22.652e 29.551g 29.492c 24.18f

9. Cocoa Husk + pig Dung 16.376f 23.936f 31.384h 31.242f 25.73h

10. Cocoa Husk + Poultry 22.694 31.196 41.582o 41.532l 34.25r

manure

11. Rice Bran (Sole) 11.99bc 18.206c 23.474b 23.712c 19.35c

12. Rice Bran + Goat Dung 13.74d 20.546d 26.436d 26.148d 21.72e

13. Rice Bran + Pig Dung 16.28f 25.085hi 32.288i 32.648g 26.78j

14. Rice Bran + Poultry 21.86k 24.17g 28.376f 29.462e 25.97h

manure

15. Spent Grain (Sole) 17.452g 26.162i 34.029j 34.03hi 27.92k

16. Spent Grain + Goat Dung 20.248j 30.42k 38.87n 39.562k 32.28q

17. Spent Grain + Pig Dung 19.56h 29.354j 36.092m 38.558j 30.89no

18. Spent Grain + poultry 22.06l 33.14m 43.044p 38.75jk 34.25r

manure19. Saw Dust (Sole) 10.98b 16.11b 27.73e 21.216b 15.26b

20. Saw Dust + Goat Dung 16.50f 24.426g 31.474h 31.79f 26.05hi

21. Saw Dust + Pig Dung 17.22g 27.18l 34.298k 33.694h 28.10kl

22. Saw Dust + Poultry manure 18.28h 27.33i 35.492lm 35.548l 29.16m

Treatment means within each group of column followed by the same letters are not significantly different

from each other using DMRT at 5% level


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Table 6: The effect of plant residues plus manure on fresh pod weight of Okra (gross plot) under four crops

of Okra in kg/hectare.

S/N. Treatment 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Mean

1. Control (no fertilizer) 46.81a 46.80a 46.70a 46.85a 46.78a

2. NPK 15-15-15 536.40k 801.63k 1335.42h 1469.75h 704.80f

3. Wood Ash (Sole) 254.50d 383.75cd 1117.76d 1102.01d 464.51c

4. Wood Ash + Goat Dung 548.75kl 823.97l 22.13.00l 2201.10l 1446.71m

5. Wood Ash + Pig Dung 571.40n 853.31m 24.03.39n 2390.74n 957.03l

6. Wood Ash + Poultry manure 630.98p 1095.72q 2692.93op 2672.33o 1772.99p

7. Cocoa Husk (Sole) 275.95f 414.76e 1183.43f 1169.55e 760.92g

8. Cocoa Husk + Goat Dung 606.19o 777.47j 2257.48m 2240.11m 1470.31mn

9. Cocoa Husk + Pig Dung 594.23n 892.58mn 2614.53o 2590.74j 1673.02o

10. Cocoa Husk + poultry manure 641.00q 962.50n 3003.66p 2979.98p 1896.79q

11. Rice Bran (Sole) 214.36c 324.09c 920.88b 900.88b 590.05d

12. Rice Bran + Goat Dung 475.16j 714.04ij 2035.03jk 2013.53j 1309.44j

13. Rice Bran + Pig Dung 533.74k 838.88lm 2076.77k 2054.11k 1375.88l

14. Rice Bran + poultry manure 558.75l 704.06l 2026.54j 1999.89l 1322.31jk

15. Spent Grain (Sole) 386.58l 579.37h 2268.62m 2260.15mn 1373.68l

16. Spent Grain + Goat Dung 654.33r 981.30o 3113.30q 3092.28q 1760.30r

17. Spent Grain + Pig Dung 686.53s 1026.11op 3724.21r 3632.68r 2267.38s

18. Spent Grain + Poultry manure 716.41t 1074.64p 4076.52s 4032.23s 2474.75t

19. Saw Dust (Sole) 180.62b 271.65b 996.45c 978.78c 606.88de

20. Saw Dust + Goat Dung 260.72e 388.55d 1170.33e 1495.18h 828.70h

21. Saw Dust + Pig Dung 297.23g 447.22f 1319.13g 1299.55f 210.19b

22. Saw Dust + Poultry manure 341.335h 541.33g 1493.541 1437.60g 953.45l

Mean (X) 471.44 704.77 2135.38 2127.69

Treatment means within each group or column followed by the same letters are not significantly different

from each other using DMRT at 5% level.


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FERTILITY INDICES AND MANAGEMENT OF HYDROMORPHIC SOILS SUPPORTING RAPHIAPALM (RAPHIA HOOKERI) MANN AND WEND LAND) PLANTATION AT ONUEBUM, BAYELSA

STATE, NIGERIA.

Imogie, A.E., Udosen, C.V and Ugbah, M.M.

Agronomy Division, NIFOR, PMB 1030, Benin City, Edo State

ABSTRACT

Fertility status of soils supporting Raphia hookeri at Onuebum in Bayelsa State,

Nigeria, was investigated. The soils have silt(clay + silt) ratios very low, being less

than unity in all the samples which is an indication that most of the silt has been

weathered into clay. The soils pH were moderately to strongly acidic with their

values ranging from 4.50 - 4.52. The hydromorphic soils supporting the growth of

Raphia hookeri palms contained low concentration of total N, available P and

relatively low exchangeable cations, Ca, Mg, K and Na. The base saturation percent

is medium to high (66.0 81.0%) and low in effective cation exchange capacity

(4.754 6.416 cmolkg1

). The plantation therefore require application of organic or

inorganic fertilizer preferably N and K to boost the soil nutrient. In addition, good

tillage and liming should be done to reduce the flooding and acidity of the soils.

KEY WORDS: Raphia hookeri, Chemical properties, management, fertility status,

supporting.

INTRODUCTION

Raphia palm is monocotyledonous tree crop that thrives on predominantly swampy areas which are mostlyhydromorphic soils. It is a utility plant that supplies numerous products of social and economic

importance especially in Southern Nigeria. The palms valued for their fibre (piassava), furniture materials,

and cosmetic by products, and palm sap called palm wine, which is rich in vitamins, carbohydrates and

yeast (Obahiagbon, 2007). Major constraints to crop production in tropical Africa generally include biotic

and abiotic factors. Among the biotic factors is the soil. Soil is the major contributor to crop yield, this is

because conducive soil factors supply enough plant nutrients which are essential for the growth,

development and yield of crops. Thus soil testing is essential to the determination of the potentials and

constraint of soils to crop.

In order to fully exploit raphia palm, there is need to know the soil properties of the hydromorphic soil on

which the palm grows and how it can be properly managed for optimal growths, development and yield.

Hydromorphic soils are characterized by an excess of soil water, at least for a short period of time. They

are generally coarse textured with high acidity except in few patches with calcareous relies. Organic matterand nitrogen contents vary from low to moderately high depending on the intensity of water level and

duration of water logging which influence the rate of organic matter degradation. The soils are generally

low in exchangeable bases particularly potassium and magnesium.

Raphia palms farmers will encounter difficulties in managing low fertility soils, especially where there are

no baseline data on inherent physical and chemical properties of the soils and the limits of nutrient

requirements of raphia palm. Increased production will not only require additional inputs of N, P, K and

Mg but also micronutrients to sustain high yields. At present there is little information on the fertilizer

requirements for raphia palm in Nigeria. The available information is based on extrapolations from nursery

fertility trials. Attempts at developing effective management of the soils supporting raphia palm, requires

the use soil test data because it is essential to the determination of the potentials and constraints of soil to

crop yield.


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20

Imogie, A.E et al: Continental J. Agronomy 2: 19 - 24, 2008

Since little seems to have been directed to identifying fundamental constraints of soils grown to Raphiahookeri in Onuebum in Bayelsa State. This present study aims at evaluating the soil properties of the area,

identify constraints militating against the growth, development and yield ofRaphia hookeri and to suggest

appropriate correction measures to increase growth, development and yield of the palm.


Description of study area:

The study was conducted at NIFOR Raphia palm substation at Onuebum in Bayelsa State. A total of 89

surfaces (0-15cm) and sub surface (15-30cm) soil samples were collected from 40 profiles in three selected

locations in the Raphia hookeri Plantation. The locations covered the humid and sub-humid with mean

annual rainfall of 3000 to 4000mm. This was randomly selected to represent the total hectares of the area.

The selected location had no previous history of fertilization. The vegetation is dense tropical rain forest

consisting mainly of freshwater swamps and raphia palms. Samples collected were bulked together in

black polythene bags and were transported to the Agronomy analytical laboratory at the Main Station

(NIFOR). The bulked soil samples were air dried and crushed to pass through a 2mm sieve prior to

analysis.

Determination of soil physical and chemical properties:

Soil pH was determined in 1:1 soil, water suspension ratio and read in glass electrode pH meter.

Mechanical analysis was done by the hydrometer method (Bouyoucous, 1951). Organic carbon was

determined by the dichromate wet oxidation method (Walkley and Black, 1934) as modified by Jackson

(1969). Total nitrogen was assessed by the micro-kjeldahl digestion method (Bremner, 1965). Available

phosphorus was by Bray P-I- method (Bray and Kurtz, 1945). Exchangeable K, Ca, Na, and Mg were

extracted with neutral 1 M ammonium acetate, K and Na in the extracts were determined with a Flame

Photometer, while Ca and Mg were determined with an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Fe, Mn, Zn

and Cu were extracted in 0.1 N HCL and then determined in an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.

Exchangeable acidity was determined using the method of Mclean (1965). The ECEC was by summation

of exchangeable cations plus exchangeable acidity. The percent base saturation was calculated as the sumof exchangeable cations divide by the ECEC and multiplied by 100


The result of physical properties of the hydromorphic soils supportingRaphia hookeri is presented in Table

1. The soil texture is dominated by the sand fraction which accounted for an average of 76.5% This reflects

the dominance of quartz in the soils parent materials. The soils were generally coarse texture having high

sand but low silt and clay contents. The silt /clay + silt) ratios were low, being less than unity in all the

samples indicating most of the silt as having been weathered into clay. According to Stewart et al., (1970),

low silt and low silt/(clay + silt) ratios is an indicators of advanced weathering which arises from prolonged

action or strong intensity of the weathering agents such as rainfall etc.

Table 1: Particle size distribution and textural classes of hydromorphic soils supporting Raphia hookeri

at Onuebum NIFOR Sub-station.

Location Soil depth

(cm)

Sand % Silt % Clay % Texture

Location 1 0 15

15 30

88.9-91.2

75.1-88.6

5.9-7.2

10.7-20.2

4.9-5.2

4.2-8.7

Sand Loam

Loam Sand

Location 2 0 -15

15-30

85.1-89.1

83.6-90.6

7.7-10.7

0.7-10.7

1.7-8.2

2.2-6.7

Sand

Sandy Loam

Location 3 0-15

15-80

36.1-87.6

80.5- 90.5

4.9-5.6

6.5-8.0

4.9-5.2

4.2 8.7

Sand loam

Sand

Table 2: showed the chemical properties of soils supportingRaphia hookeri. The result of the chemical

analysis showed that the soils were moderately to strongly acidic, having a pH value ranging from 4.30 to


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21


4.71 with a mean of 4.50 for surface and 4.26 4.77 with a mean of 4.52 for sub-surfaces soil. This israted as strongly acid (Holland et al., 1989). According to Jacquemard et al., (1998), oil palm can cope

with acid soils with a pH as low as 4 or 45.

Raphia palm like oil palm can tolerate acid soils. The organic carbon contents of the soils were low

ranging from 0.22 1.256gkg-1

with a mean value of 0.650gkg-1

for surface soils and 0.032 0.960 gkg-1

with a mean value of 0.502gkg-1

for sub-surface soils. The soil total N was generally low in the three

locations. These ranging from 0.067 0.245 with a mean value of 0.096 gkg-1

for surface soils and 0.025

0.522 gkg-1

with a mean value of 0.076 gkg-1

for sub surfaces soils. The low total N values could be

attributed to ineffective microbial degradation of organic matter in the waterlogged soils and also due to

long period of flooding which usually last for 6 8 months in a year with few months of dryness.

There is a high variation in the degree of decomposition of the soils organic matter. And this is a reflection

of the organic carbon content in the soils (Onyekwere et al., 2003). Raphia palm are heavy feeder of N

thus low content of N will likely have adverse effect on growth, development and yield. Thus external

application of N in form of organic or inorganic fertilizer is required to enhance the growth, development

and yield of the palms.

The available P was generally low except in location two where the values were moderately high. The

mean values at this location ranged from 17.80 mgkg-1

for surface soils to 13.85 mgkg-1

for sub surface

soils. Locations 1 and 2 have available P values less than 10 gkg-1

suitable for optimal productivity (FAO,

1976). Raphia hookeri is not a heavy feeder of phosphorus; hence the P content in these soils is not likely

to limit the growth, development and yield of the palm. The exchangeable calcium, magnesium, potassium

and sodium were very low.

The calcium contents were very low and less than 4.0 cmol kg-1

. According to Bohn et al., (1979), high

calcium content is very good for crop production, because it is an indication of low concentration of other

potentially troublesome exchangeable cations like sodium and aluminum in acid soils. Exchangeable Kand Mg were low. The lower contents of these basic cations may be caused by a high degree of leaching

which is certainly aggravated by the high rainfall, sandy texture and the low pH of the soils.

Exchangeable sodium content was moderate. The value ranged from 0.611 1.522 cmol kg-1

with a mean

value of 0.622 cmol kg-1

for surface soils to 0.585 1.522 cmol kg-1

with a mean value of 0.768 cmol kg-1

for sub-surface soil. The exchangeable acidity ranged from 1.05 2.04 cmol with a mean value of 1.55

cmol kg-1 for surface soils and 1.05 1.56 cmol kg -1 with a mean value 125 cmol kg-1 for sub-surface soils.

The highest value was recorded at location 1 with the least value recorded at location 3. The effective

cation exchange capacity (ECEC) was generally low, the values ranges from 3.331 8.012 cmol kg-1

with

mean value of 4.757 cmol kg-1

for surface soils and 3.284 10.515 cmol kg-1

with a mean value of 6.416

cmol kg-1

for sub-surface soils.

According to FAO (1976), soils having ECEC value above 20 cmol kg-1

are regarded as being suitable forcrop production, if other factors are favourable. The percentage base saturation values were moderate to

high with all the values above 35% which is regarded as the critical level for the growth, development and

yield of palm (Ibanga and Udo, 1996).

However, because water logging brings about increase in pH with attendant decrease in exchange acidity;

the soils generally have high percentage base proportion of the reserves in exchangeable or extractable

available forms. This could be the reason for high percent base saturation as observed. Thus these soils

could support any plant that tolerates permanent or periodic wetness likeRaphia hookeri palms. Generally

it was observed that the soil at Onuebum where Raphia hookeri is cultivated had low CEC and this is an

indication of a low buffering capacity. Also the soil were inherently low in total N, available P, thus for


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22


optimal productivity of the palms, external inputs such as application of NPK and Mg fertilizers in form oforganic or inorganic fertilizer is required to sustain growth and productivity.

RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION:

Soil management can be defined as preparation and treatment of soils for the production of all types of

agricultural economic plants (Aduayi and Ekong, 1981). A good system must ensure that the nutrient

status of the soil is maintained, that all factors directly harmful to plant growth such as high acidity or

alkalinity, poor drainage are absent. Management of Onuebum hydromorphic soils supporting Raphia

hookeri for sustainableRaphia hookeri production can be achieved through the following ways.

(1) Use of soil conditioner

The area should be periodically lime with calcite or calcium carbonate; this will improve the soil structures.

Soil conditioners such as lime or calcite (CaCo3) have been successfully used to improve the structure of

acidic soils. Liming of soil increase the soil pH to near neutral and make P, exchangeable calcium and

magnesium more available in the soil.

(2) Drainage

Onuebum soils usually is flooded 6-8 months in a year, thus for effective utilization of this land for

meaningful productivity, excess water should be removed through good drainage system or channels. The

objective of soil drainage is to control excess water so as to make the soil more stable for optimum plant

growth. The excess water on the surface of the soil can be drained either by open drains or sub-surface

methods such as the use of tile; mole drains perforated pipes as well as swap and pump approaches. Apart

from leaching excess salts from the soil, drainage ventilates the soil, moderates soil temperature and makes

soil moisture available to the rooting cane. Other benefit is that drainage elongate crop growing season and

makes early planning and planting easy.

(2) Agronomic practices

The Agronomic practices of pudding (planning and harrowing), use of minimum tillage tools andimplement to ensure good soil tilt, levelling of the land and construction of leaves to impound water and

making of high mounds, ridges or beds enable us to put hydromorphic soils into productive use. The

objective here is to lower the water table whereas the top soil is maintained at field capacity moisture level.

Others agronomic practices include application of organic or inorganic fertilizers especially N and K

fertilizer to boast soil fertility.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are grateful to the Executive Director of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR)

for his support in kind and cash for the success of this work. Important to thank too is the plantation

manager at NIFOR Raphia palm substation, Onuebum, Mr. Adejaro, and the entire staff of the station for

their high sense of duties, commitment and dedication for the successful collection of soil samples.

REFERENCESAduayi, E.A. and Ekong E.E. (1981), General Agriculture and soils. Cassel Limited, an Affiliation of

Macmillan Pub. Co. Inc, 8th

edition, New York: 55.

Bohn, H.L., Brian, L.M. and George, A.O. (1979). Soil Chemistry. John Wiley and Sons. New York,

329pp.

Bouyoucos, G.H. (1951). A re-calibration of the hydrometer for mechanical analysis of soils 8th

edition,

Macmillan New York. 32pp.

Bray R.H. and Kurtz, L.T. (1965). Determination of total and available forms of phosphorus in Soils.

Journal of Soils Science, 53:39-45.


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Bremmer, J.M. (1965). Total Nitrogen in C.A. Black (ed). Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2,Agronomy Series 9 American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin USA, 1149-1170.

Holland, M.D., Allen, R.K.G and Murphy, S.T. (1989) Land evaluation and agricultural

recommendations, Cross River State National Park, Oban Division, Bulletin No 18.

Ibanga, I.J. and Udo, E.J. (1996). Soil Survey and fertility baseline data collection of Akwa Ikot Effanga

Farm, Agricultur al Development Project, Bulletin No. 2

Jackson, M.L. (1968). Soil Chemical analysis, I.I. T.A. 43: 35-38.

Jacqueward J.J. C., Baudouin, L., Berthaud, A., Graille, J., Huguest, R., Marriou, D.I., Noel,

J.M., Quencez, P and Tailliez, B. (1998). Oil palm (The Tropical Agriculturist). Macmillan,. Basingstoke

London. 647Pp.

Mclean, E.O. (1965). Aluminium. In. C.a. Black (ed), Methods of Soil Analysis. Agronomy

Number 9 part 11. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, 978 999.

Obahiagbon, F.I. (2007). Raphia palm sap production uses. A paper presented at NIFOR

Seminar held 19th

February, 2007, Pp 3.

Onyekwere, I.N., Ano, A.O., Ezenwa, M.I.S., Osunde, A.O. and Bala, A. (2003). Assessment of

exchangeable acidity status and management of wetland soils of Cross River, Nigeria. In Ojeniyi et al.,

(eds). Agricultural productivity and Rural poverty. Environmental implication pp. 202 207.

Stewart, V.I., Adams, W.A. and Abdulla, H. H. (1970). Quantititative pedological studies on soils derived

from Silurian mudstone I. parent material and the significance of weathering process. Journal of soil

science 21: 242-247.

Walkley, A and Black, I.A. (1934). An examination of the degtjareff method for determing soil organic

matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration

methods. Soil Science 37: 29-28.

Received for Publication: 15/06/2008

Accepted for Publication: 05/07/2008

Corresponding Author:

Imogie, A.E.

Agronomy Division, NIFOR, PMB 1030, Benin City, Edo State

Email: [email protected]


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Table 2: Chemical properties of soil supportingR. hookeri

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

SOIL DEPTH (CM)Soil properties Location 1 2 3 3

pH (H20

4.45

4.41 4.71

4.60

4.42 4.77

4.53

4.46 4.62

4.40

4.26 4.67

4.

4.30

Org C (gkg-1)

0.650

0.064 1.256

0.292

0.032 0.516

0.493

0.160 0.833

0.502

0.064 0.960

0.1

0.022

Total N (gkg-1)

0.096

0.073 0.125

0.310

0.087 0.522

0.104

0.067 0.142

0.076

0.05 0.136

0.1

0.071- 0

Avail P. (mg kh-1

)

10.53

6.405 14.663

10.91

7.973 13.838

17.80

16.874 19.018

19.62

15.465 23.711

13

4.827

Exchangeable cation

Ca. (cmol kg-1)

1.781.04 2.16

3.040.88 5 .60

1.931.52 2.40

2.601.44 4.16

1.451.20 2

Mg (cmol kg-1)

0.810.40 1.42

1.070.04 2.30

1.010.48 1.92

1.241.36 1.48

1.160.24 2

K (cmol kg-1)

0.240

0.127 0.353

0.170

0.103 0.273

0.242

0.174 0.310

0.251

0.113 0.44

0.26

0.113

Na (mol kg-1)

0.787

0.784 0.860

0.696

0.611 0.782

6.622

0.671 1.522

1.055

0.585 1.522

0.739

0.645

EA (cmol kg-1)

1.86

1.05 2.04

1.40

1.05 1.56

1.75

1.65 2.86

1.20

1.05 - 1.30

1.14

1.24 1

EEC (cmol kg-1)

5.477

3.331 6.833

6.416

3.284 10.515

5.554

4.495 8.012

6.346

4.548 8.876

4.757

3.438

B (%)

66.0

68.8 70.1

77.6

68.0 85.2

68.5

63.3 76.7

81.1

76.9 85.4

76.0

63.9


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INTEGRATION OF COCOA POD ASH, POULTRY MANURE AND NPK 20:10:10 FOR SOIL FERTILITYMANAGEMENT INCUBATION STUDY

Ayeni L.S.

University of Agriculture, Department of Soil Science and Land Management, Abeokuta, Nigeria. E- Mail.

[email protected]

ABSTRACT

A laboratory incubation study to determine the rate of nutrient supply by poultry manure (0, 5

and 10 t ha-1

), cocoa pod ash (0, 5 and 10 t ha-1

), NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer (0 and 150 kg ha-1

)

and their combinations on soil properties was conducted at Igunshin in the rainforest zone of

Southwest Nigeria. The 10 treatments were arranged in completely randomized design with

nine replications. The soil was slightly acidic, low in OM, N, P and K. The incubation study

showed that the soils treated with poultry manure (P) rates, cocoa pod ash(C) rates and their

combinations significantly (p


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Ayeni L.S: Continental J. Agronomy 2: 25 - 30, 2008

Adeniyan and Ojeniyi (2006) have tested poultry manure combined with NPK fertilizer in experiments conductedon soil chemical properties, maize yield and nutrient uptake by maize in southwest Nigeria. Cocoa pod ash

combined with NPK fertilizer (Ayeni et al., 2008) has also been used in soil fertility management in southwest

Nigeria. Cocoa pod is more available in Igunshin southwest Nigeria than poultry manure. Hence, its combined use

with NPK fertilizer will be more beneficial to the poor resource farmers who see cocoa pods as waste products that

need to be discarded than poultry manure combined with NPK fertilizer that is not as readily available as cocoa pod.

This experiment aimed at comparing rate of nutrients release by combined application of poultry manure and

NPK2010:10 fertilizer with combined cocoa pod ash and NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer in Igunshin southwest Nigeria .

Table 1: Properties of poultry manure and cocoa pod ash used in the experiments (%).

_____________________________________________________________________

Nutrient OC N C/N P K Ca Mg S

______________________________________________________________________

Poultry Manure 11.8 1.72 6.9 9.56 3.87 2.66 1.09 2.72

Cocoa pod ash 12.4 0.99 12.5 2.50 15.13 3.40 1.76 1.11

_______________________________________________________________________


Soil used for the laboratory experiment was collected from Igunshin in the forest zone (070

050N 04

055

1) southwest

Nigeria in early March 2007 and transferred to the Federal University of Technology Akure for nutrient analysis.

Igunshin soil is derived from the basement complex rock (USDA Survey Staff, 1975) and is classified as Alfisol.

Soil analysis

Soil samples were taken from the site at 0-20cm depth for the experiment. The collected soil samples was air-dried

and sieved through 2mm sieved mesh. Part of the soil sample was used for routine soil analysis and laboratory

incubation study. Organic matter was determined by the dichromate oxidation method. Available phosphorus was

extracted with Bray-1-P and determined colorimetrically (Bray and Kurtz, 1945). Exchangeable bases (Ca, K and

Mg) were extracted with 1N ammonium acetate at pH 7.0. Potassium was read using flame photometer while Ca andMg were determined on the atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Analysis of poultry manure and cocoa pod ash

The nutrient composition of powdered poultry manure and cocoa pod ash were determined after ashing in a muffle

furnace. With the exception of N, the determination of the organic materials was done using wet digestion method

based on 25 5 5 ml of HNO3 H2SO4 HCl4 acids. Phosphorus was measured on spectronic 20 at 442(m); K

with photometer while Ca and Mg were determined with the use of AAS. Total N was determined with

mickrokjedahl method.

Treatment Design and Application

Three levels of cocoa pod ash and poultry manure applied at 0, 0.25 and 0.5g/100soil to represent 0, 5 and 10 t ha-1

and two levels of NPK 20: 10:10 fertilizer applied at 0 and 0.075g/100g soil to represent 0 and 150 kg ha-1

were

formulated to give ten treatments. The formulations and their abbreviations were: Absolute control (no treatmentapplied), 10 t ha

-1poultry manure (P10), 5 t ha

-1poultry manure (P5), 10 t ha

-1cocoa pod ash only (C10), 5 t ha

-1

cocoa pod ash only (C5), 150 kg ha-1

NPK 20:10:10 (F150), 10 t ha-1

poultry manure combined with 150 kg ha-1

NPK 20:10:10 (P10F150), 5 t ha-1

poultry manure combined with 150 kg ha-1

NPK 20:10:10 (P5F150), 10 t ha-1

cocoa pod ash combined with 150 kg ha-1

NPK20: 10: 10 (C10F150) and 5 t ha-1

of cocoa pod ash combined with

150 kg ha-1

NPK20: 10:10 (C5F150). Each treatment was put in a plastic cup, covered with a loosed asbestos sheet

with equal amount of distilled water added weekly. The treatments were arranged in completely randomized design

on a laboratory desk in a cool room. Each treatment was replicated nine times to give a total sum of ninety soil

samples. Three samples of each treatment was chemically analyzed at 30 days interval and discarded.


The soil used for the experiment contained 1.29% OC, 0.10% total N, 5.97 mg kg-1

available P, the exchangeable

cations were 0.15, 2.32 and 0.30 cmol kg-1

for available K, Ca and Mg respectively with pH of 6.09 (1:1 H2O). The


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soil was sandy clay. The initial soil characteristics showed that the soil was deficient N and P (Sobulo and Osiname,1981). The chemical properties of the poultry manure and cocoa pod ash used in the experiment was shown in

Table 1. Generally, poultry manure was richer in plant nutrients than cocoa pod ash except K and Ca.

Table 2: Effect of cocoa pod ash, poultry manure, NPK20:10:10 and their combination on soil pH and organic

carbon

Treatment 60 days 60 days

pH OC

Control 6.06 6.08 6.03 1.32 1.37 1.39

F150 6.00 5.98 5.96 1.36 1.36 1.38

C5 6.38 6.52 6.99 1.33 1.39 1.43

C10 7.45 7.58 7.67 1.16 1.49 1.53

P5 6.20 6.29 6.17 1.38 1.59 1.60

P10 6.39 6.68 6.66 1.36 1.60 1.77

C5F150 6.22 6.29 6.48 1.38 1.52 1.69

C10F150 7.34 7.38 7.49 1.39 1.59 1.69

P5F150 6.17 6.2 6.09 1.48 1.65 1.97

P10F150 6.19 6.43 6.22 1.55 1.79 2.1

LSD

(0.05)

0.18 0.2 0.23 0.07 0.09 0.09

F = NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer, C = cocoa pod ash, P = poultry manure

Application of poultry manure rate, cocoa pod ash rate and their various combinations had an immediate effect on

pH of the soil used (Table 2). The pH of the soil samples treated with poultry manure, cocoa pod ash and their

combinations were significantly (p


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immobilization. The OC in all the treatments increased through out the period of the experiment. The significance(p


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fertilizer on soil fertility, nutrient uptake and uptake of maize. Moor Journal of Agricultural Research. 4, 194 197.

Adu-Dapaah H.K, Combina J and Asare E.O. 1994. Effect of cocoa pod on maize growth. Journal of Agric. Sc.

Cambridge 132:31-33

Ano A.O and Agwu J.A 2005. Effect of animal manure on selected soil chemical properties, Nigerian. Journal of

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Akanni, D.I. and Ojeniyi, S.O. 2007. Effect of different levels of poultry manure on soil physical properties, nutrient

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the soil incubated with litter materials. Soil Biology and Biochemistry.32: 805 813.

Odedina S.A, Odedina J.N., Ayeni S., Arowojolu S.A., Adeyeye S.D. and Ojeniyi S.O. 2003 Effect of types of

ash on soil fertility nutrient availability and yield of tomato and pepper. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science13: 66-67

Sobulo, R.A. and Osiname O.A. 1981. Soil and Fertilizer use in Western Nigeria, Resource Bulletin No11 IAR&T,

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