Asian Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
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Individual-Based Modelling for Predicting Dry Matter Accumulation in Juveniles of Indian Olive Raised under Different Soil Treatments
No full textDry matter accumulation data for juvenile Indian Olive saplings was modelled using linear and non- linear regression models. The data was gathered bimonthly and for two years i.e., twelve readings. Linear, Quadratic, Power, Sigmoid, and Exponential models performed quite well for cumulative growth data (Adj. R2 > 0.93). The Sigmoid model (Chapman- Richard) demonstrated upper asymptotic values ranged between 179.96- 334.49 grams for all treatments (T0 – T4) suggesting that olive saplings responded positively to different soil treatments. Both, age and size dependent relative growth rates (RGRs) manifested low values and decrease in RGR curve. Age- dependent RGR displayed a smooth decline in function, indicating extended longevity. Low RGR (along with low Specific Leaf Area), is a characteristic feature of slow growing and evergreen species and this trait was observed in Indian Olive growth too. Size- standardized RGR revealed that due to the low rate of decline, T4 had the superior RGR (and maximum dry matter accumulation) followed by other treatments. Moreover, T0 had the sharpest decrease and the lowest dry matter accumulation. Cross- validation of model parameters exhibited statistical stability
Genetic Analysis of Maize Response to Salt Stress in Hydroponic Medium
No full textThe productivity of maize (Zea mays L.) from the farmers’ fields has been characterized as being low due to salinity among other contributing factors. In this study the use of phenotypic traits as a selection criterion and screening of maize genotypes for tolerance to salt stress was investigated. The objectives of this study were therefore to i) estimate heritability for genotypic response to root and shoot length ii) ascertain an appropriate genotypic maize screening criterion in saline medium and iii) identify tolerant maize genotypes in hydroponic medium. The experiment was set up as 5 x 11 factorial completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications at the University of Zambia, pathology laboratory. Thus 11 genotypes were evaluated in five doses of salinity concentrations giving 55 experimental units. Genotypes exhibited significant differences (P< 0.05) in response to both parameters (root and shoot length) across salinity concentrations. Similarly the response of root and shoot length in different salinity concentration across genotypes was also significant (P< 0.001). The entry based heritability estimate was found to be 0.76 and 0.18 for responses to root and shoot respectively. Shoot length was identified as a key trait to utilize in screening maize genotypes for tolerance to salt stress under hydroponic conditions despite possessing a low heritability estimate. In this study tolerant genotypes to salt stress were identified as ZHYB 2, ZHYB 7 and ZHYB 11
Amended Crop Wastes Compost Affect Soil Chemical Properties and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Nigeria Savanna
No full textAims: To evaluate the efficacy of poultry droppings amended cocoa pod husk and rice mill wastes, as a substitute for costly inorganic fertilizers on some soil properties and yield of maize.
Study Design: Experiment was laid in randomized complete block design.
Place and Duration of Study: Two year field study was conducted at the Research Farm of the Cross River University of Technology during 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons.
Methodology: Two compost types: cocoa pod husk and rice mill wastes both amended with poultry droppings at the ratio of 3:1 for cocoa pod husk + poultry droppings and rice mill waste + poultry droppings respectively. Each compost type was applied at rate of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 t ha-1 with absolute control (0 t ha-1 compost) and optimal control NPK 20.10.10 at 300 kg ha-1 making a total of 10 treatments replicated three times. The effect of the amendments were assessed on soil pH, OM, N, P, exch. Ca, K, Mg, EA, ECEC and maize yield.
Results: The compost rates increased soil pH, OM, N, P and the exch. K, Ca, EA, and ECEC over the pre-treatment soils and the controls. Cocoa pod compost amendments with poultry droppings at rate of 7.5 t ha-1 produced highest plant dry matter 8.21gplant-1 and 8.08 gplant-1 in 2019 and 2020 (P = .05) respectively and the highest grain yield of 3.92 t ha-1 and 3.89 t ha-1 respectively in 2019 and 2020. The least grain yield was in the absolute control, which yield was 0.38t ha‑1 and 0.42 t ha-1, respectively in 2019 and 2020.
Conclusion: Amended cocoa pod husk compost is a suitable soil amendment for optimum yield of maize and improvement of soil chemical properties in the study area and a substitute for mineral fertilizers for resource poor farmers
Physical and Hydrodynamic Textural Parameters of Soils: The Case of the Rubber Plantations of the Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA) Anguédédou in South-Eastern Côte d\u27Ivoire
No full textThe rubber tree, a species of Amazonian forest tree, is cultivated for its latex, which is rich in natural rubber. Its cultivation is of economic, social, climatic and environmental importance. However, it is often accused of destroying the soil. To clear up this misunderstanding, a study was carried out to characterise the physical and hydrodynamic characteristics of soils under rubber in south-eastern Côte d\u27Ivoire. According to the biotope (rubber plantation, abandoned rubber plantations and forest) and the age of the rubber plantations, this study selected 12 plots. These included ten rubber plantations that were divided into four age categories: 1-5 years, 6-10 years, 11-20 years, and 21-40 years. Additionally, a secondary forest was also selected as a control, which was located in close proximity to these plantations. Furthermore, a rubber plantation that had been abandoned for more than eight years was also selected considered as a transition between the active plantations and the secondary forest. In these biotopes, soil samples were taken using an auger and sent to the laboratory to determine soil texture. Using the Yoro sand method and the single ring device, the apparent density, porosity and water infiltration rate of the soils were determined. The results show that the soil texture of the CNRA Anguédédou rubber plantations in southern Côte d\u27Ivoire is generally clayey. On the other hand, the texture of the soils of the youngest plantations (1 to 5 years old) is silty-clayey with more than 37% clay and a low water content. However, the soils of old rubber plantations with a clay texture have high water content. The soil compactness observed in young rubber plantations is corrected as the plantations age
Nitrogen Losses and Enrichment of Soil and Sawdust Coverings during Composting of Poultry Manure
No full textAims: Composting poultry manure is an effective way of enhancing its nutrient content and reduce nutrient losses. There is the need to reduce gaseous nutrient losses during composting through the use of covering materials. Assess the level of chemical enrichment of soil and sawdust used as covering materials; and identify the most suitable medium that can best perform as a covering material during composting of poultry manure.
Materials and Methods: Experiments were set up to examine the changes in the chemical properties of soil and sawdust used as covering material for composted poultry manure. Five treatments – no covering, layers of 2.8 kg soil, 5.6 kg soil, 0.9 kg sawdust, and black polythene sheet on 5.28 kg broiler and layer manure heaps with four replications were arranged in a completely randomized design. Samples were taken from the manure piles and the soil and sawdust covering materials for chemical analysis at 3, 6 and 9 weeks after composting.
Results: The pH, N, P, K, Na and Ca, in both soil covers increased as time elapsed, whereas the Mg and C/N ratios of the soil coverings decreased with time. With regards to the broiler manure, however, the pH and the nutrient content of the two levels of soils used as cover increased at all the stages of composting. Composting of both poultry manures resulted in the improvement of the chemical properties of both sawdust and soil coverings. The enrichment ratio of N was greater in the 5.6 kg soil than the 2.8 kg soil covering. Additionally, the 5.6 kg soil covering was highly efficient (P = .05) in reducing N losses by 57 and 83.85% from the broiler and layer piles, respectively. In general, the 5.6 kg soil was the most effective covering material
Achievement of Target Yield by Using Required Quantitative Fertilizers in Rice Crop Cultivation by Using Optimum Solutions
No full textStudies of soil-based tests pertaining to different crops in Vindhyan alluvial plains from 2001 to 2004 show effect of production on specific rice crop by IR-36 testing leveraging on soil stoichiometric testing and recommended balanced fertilizers and organic matter amelioration by application for the niche area of impact to targeted yield of rice crop. Findings reinforce that soil micro-flora and micro-organisms accelerate aeration, porosity, drainage and optimum crumby structures, resulting in nascent fertility and support to crop plant for profuse and vigorous growth through optimum soil texture under different agro-climatological divisions in specificity. Primary and secondary data are tabulated after administration of research questionnaire, structure, queue, flow and research objectives, first hand data fulfilment through field notes and experimental block designs under study in rice-based ecosystem of control and treatment blocks. The study of nutrients requirement for specific accelerated productivity of rice crop by applying control and treatment with particular fertilisers which is structured in the mathematical model of [CF (%)] and [CS (%)] gradient. Further data in relation to studies of nutrient dose recommended model development through incursion into stoichiometric trends, analysis, models, algorithms, principles, procedures and quantisation. Regression based studies support the experimental design blocks. Studies by experimental design of blocks replication and finding of experimentations led to outcome of best efficacy and efficient recommended fertiliser dose to enrich, replenish the gap of inadequate fertilizers to the paddy crop to meet our targeted yield of paddy crops. Analytical trends and comparison experimentation sheet led to the effort for how much fertilizer is actually required for crop growth by applying mathematical quantization and qualitative. Under experimental controls and originality of this innovative findings, this research supports systems approach for simplicity, spirituality and sustainability
Effect of Blended Fertilizer Rate on Yield and Yield Components of Hybrid Maize (Zea mays L.) Varieties under Irrigation Condition in Low Land Area of South Omo Zone
No full textMaize is an important cereal crop in Ethiopia. However, the yield of this crop is limited due to the lack of varieties and blended fertilizer for varieties and site specifications. The use of a right amount of fertilizer based on crop requirement has significant importance for sustainable crop production. A study was undertaken to investigate the effects of NPSB blended fertilizer rate for maize yield production at a Dasenech and Nyangatom districts in the lowland area of South Omo Zone, Southern Ethiopia during the 2019/ 2020 cropping season. The experiment was factorial with three maize varieties (BH-140, BH-540 and MH-140) and four NPSB blended fertilizer rate including kg ha-1(none fertilizer, 50 NPSB, 100 NPSB, and 150 NPSB). Factorial combinations were used as twelve treatments laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Phenological and growth parameters, as well as yield and yield components data, were collected and subjected to analysis of variance using the SAS software program. The result of analysis of variance revealed that the interaction effect of varieties and blended fertilizer rate highly significant difference in grain yield. The result indicated that the highest grain yield (3624.0 kg ha-1) and net benefit (45,324 Eth-birr ha-1) with MRR of 2123.5 % were obtained from BH-540 variety treated with 100 kg ha-1 of NPSB fertilizer rates at Dasenech location. Whereas, at the Nyangatom location, the highest grain yield (4324 kg ha-1) and net benefit (54,774 Eth-birr ha-1) with MRR of 2968.5 % were obtained from MH-140 variety treated with 100 kg ha-1 of NPSB fertilizer rates. Therefore, based on the yield response and, cost and return analysis indicated, it is recommended BH-540 variety treated with 100 kg ha-1 of NPSB blended fertilizer rates for Dasenech location, while MH-140 variety treated with 100 kg ha-1 of NPSB blended fertilizer rates for Nyangatom location and their similar soil conditions and agro-ecology
Effect of Micaschist Powder in Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) Farming on Ferrallitic Soils of Mbandjock (Cameroon, Central Africa)
No full textThis study evaluates the fertilizing potential of micaschist powder in sugarcane farming on ferrallitic soils of the Mbandjok area in Cameroon. These soils are poor in exchangeable cations and assimil able phosphorus, very acidic, with low to moderate CEC. An experimental design, which consisted in a randomized Fischer block, is composed of six replications of five treatments:T0: conventional fertilization (Ureemulticote 39 00, 150 kg ha-1; MAP, 125kg ha-1; KCl,250kg ha-1) T0-M1: T0 + 5 t ha-1of Micaschist powder, T0-M2: T0 + 7 t ha-1of Micaschist powder, NP-M1:N and P supply, conventional dose (no KCl) + 5 t ha-1of Micaschist powder, N-M2: N supply, conventional dose (no P and K) + 7 t ha-1of Micaschist powder. The experiment was carried out between October 2015 and February 2019. During this period, soil samples were collected, sugarcane was planted and monitored with great care in order to determine the parameters indicative of the growth and yield of sugarcane plants. The results indicate an important increase of the sugarcane yield during the three years of experiment, on soils where micaschist powder was added, compared to the control. Concerning the percentage of lift and voids, the T0-M1 treatment had 3% of voids compared to the T0 (9%) treatment which is the reference fertilizer; for Tillers parameter, T0-M1 (338 stems) performs very well during the experiment compared to the T0 (297stems) and for the growth parameter, T0-M1 treatment was good increasing from 182 cm in the first year to 280 cm in the second year. This suggests that micaschist powder has a positive and significant effect on the growth components. For the yield of sugarcane, the best result of tons of sugarcane (TC) was obtained with T0-M1 treatment which increased from 77.15 TC ha-1 in the first year to 86.13TC ha-1 in the third year. The overall results indicate that using micaschist powder as fertilizer can enhance sugar cane yield with a long lasting residual effect of rock powder
Monitoring the Quality of Soils around Rivers Wouri and Meme of Cameroon Using Plasticity and XRF
No full textMangroves play important roles in the environment such as sequestration, spawning of fishes and source of medicinal plants. Two rivers which feed the mangroves of Cameroon are Rivers Wouri and Meme. While River Wouri that feeds the Douala-Edea mangrove receives smaller water bodies that pass through an industrial environment, River Meme that feeds the Rio del Rey mangrove receives small water bodies that pass through an environment harbouring a lot of agricultural activities. The rural and urban communities use water from the rivers to grow vegetables (plant production). The quality of water that feeds the mangroves is of paramount importance. This in turn depends on the mineralogical content of the soils around the rivers and adjourning water sources. This is because soils act as sinks for pollutants. Different clay minerals have different capacities to retain and release chemical entities. Therefore, they contribute differently in the protection of catchment areas. This work was therefore aimed at investigating the role played by soils in controlling the movement of these chemical elements into the rivers. Clays extracted from soils around these water sources were analyzed for mineralogical composition. All analyses were carried out using standard plasticity and XRF methods. Clay content (2 to 7%) in Wouri was lower than in Meme (4 to 34%). The majority of the clay was dominated by SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, and TiO2 and was a mixture of non-expandable (2:1 and 1:1) and sesquioxide clays. The soils have low pollutant retention capacity and are therefore vulnerable to anthropogenic activities. Hence, stringent measures should be taken to monitor soil/water quality with respect to waste disposal and use of agrochemicals. The use of compost in place of fertilizers by farmers should also be encouraged
Change of Some Soil Physical Properties in Newly Reclaimed Soils Following Poor Soil Management: A Case Study in Al-Qasasin, Egypt
No full textBackground: In newly reclaimed areas, some improper farming practices like using heavy machines in tillage, adding excessive quantity of fertilizers, irrigation by flooding method and intensity cultivation could affect the soil physical properties.
Objective: Therefore, eighty soil samples were collected from the twenty-seven profiles to evaluate the change of soils\u27 physical properties at four locations (A, B, C and D) after different improper soil managements.
Methods: The study area is located in Al-Qasasin, Ismailia Governorate, Egypt northern tip of it extended between latitudes 30° 33\u27 1.147" N and 30° 28\u27 16.096" N, and longitudes 32° 4\u27 12.984" E and 32° 4\u27 15.696" E, with total area of 144.25 km2 (34345.1 Feddan) which falls in the semi-arid zone. Profile depth, soil texture, total porosity (TP), bulk density (BD), hydraulic conductivity (HC) and infiltration rate (IR) were determined according to the standard procedures.
Results: According to the values of general mean of the studied properties in the four locations, BD takes the order: C>B>A>D. While the TP take the opposite trend of BD (D>A>B>C), on the other hand, both HC and IR follow the same order: C>A>B>D. These results attributed to that the locations B and D using surface flooding irrigation system, while A and C locations using sprinkler and drip irrigation systems, respectively. In addition to the intensive cultivation and the conventional tillage planting system are used in the B and D locations. Where the tillage tools like heavy plows, disks or chisels are used seasonally. While in A and C sites light tillage and orchards planting only are used commonly.
Conclusion: These findings should be considered in future research to improve the soil management programs in these examined areas particularly the fourth location that should stop flooding technique and terns to the drip or sprinkler method