Asian Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
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Inter & Active Effect of Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilizer on Maize (Zea mays L.) Performance on a Humid Alfisol Southwestern, Nigeria
No full textA field trial was conducted in 2017 to investigate the interactive effect of the land preparation methods and different rates of nitrogenous fertilizer on maize performance and yield southwestern Nigeria. The experiment was a 3 by 3 factorial; conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a split plot management with tillage systems (T): Convectional tillage (CT), Reduced tillage (RT) and No-tillage (NT) as the main plot while nutrient amendments (N) rates (0, 50, and 120 Kg N.Ha-1) as sub-plots factor and all treatments were replicated three times. Growth and yield parameters were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). No tillage had the least plant height, stem diameter and stover weight but had the highest grains yield. Grain yield were not statistically different in all the tillage practices at different N rates applied but 60 kg N ha-1 seems best for maize production in the study area
Screening Winged Bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L) DC) Accessions Using Agronomic Characters
No full textAim: This research aimed at screening winged bean accessions using morphological characters.
Study Design: The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated three times.
Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso situated on longitude 8°7\u27 N, latitude 4°14\u27 E, and at altitude of 323.5 m above sea level.
Methodology: Seeds of thirty-eight accessions of winged bean were obtained from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan and were evaluated. Data were collected on germination count at 2, 3 and 4 weeks after planting (WAP), days to first and 50% flowering, days to first and 50% podding, top leaflet length, petiole length, secondary vine lengths at 8 and 9 WAP, pod length, and number of seeds per pod and were subjected to analyses variance.
Results: Accessions exhibited significant (P≤0.05) variation for flowering and podding dates, petiole length and top leaflet length. Days to first flowering varied from 68 to 114 days after planting (DAP) with an average of 76 days while days to 50% flowering ranged between 78 and 121 days with a mean of 83 days. Number of seeds per pod varied from 7 to 15 seeds per pod among the accessions with a mean of 12.5 seeds per pod while pod length varied from 12.3 cm to 25.6 cm with a mean pod length of 22.2 cm. Accessions TPT 26 and TPT 32 were consistent for early flowering and high seed yield and are therefore recommended for further adaptation and nutritional trials
Influence of Organic Enriched Manure and Inorganic Fertilizers on Plant Physiological Processes of Kenyan Tea Clone
No full textTea (Camellia sinensis L.) is one of the most popular beverages consumed in the world and Kenya is the leading exporter in Africa and only 3rd worldwide after China and India. Nutrient deficiency in soils and poor fertilization are possibly two reasons for low yields and quality of tea. The use of organic matter and mineral fertilizers has been proved to be a sound soil amendment and fertility management strategy. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the possibility of using readily available organic manures in combination of inorganic fertilizers on the physiological processes of tea clones in Kenya. The study was conducted within Timbilil estate, KALRO- Tea Research Institute in Kericho County on variety clone TRFK31/8. It was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. There were 14 treatments that randomly assigned in each block. Data on tea response was determined from photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance then recorded and analyzed using GenStat Version 15.1. There were significant differences between the treatments on the transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and the photosynthetic rate in both seasons for all the months recorded. The transpiration rate was highest during the wet season in the months of June, July and August while lower transpiration rates were recorded during the dry season in the months of December, January and February with 0.1 g m−2 s−1 transpiration rates recorded in several treatments in the month of February. Stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate were higher where NH4+ was introduced through the organic manure in all the seasons and therefore confirms that it is highly important to incorporate soil amendments with higher organic matter in tea production in Kenya
Impact of the Mixture of Water from Cooked Bean and Human Urine on the Growth of Some Common Plants in Cameroon: Case Study of Talinum fruticosum L. and Ocimum gratissimum L.
No full textThe sustainable improvement of plant nutrition can provide sufficient food for all and can keep the environment clean. In that point of view, the present study aims to provide to farmers some contextualized and efficient fertilizers. In the present work, 161 plants of Talinum fruticosum L. and 161 plants of Ocimum gratissimum L. were regularly treated with a mixture of human urine and water from cooked beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) in a 1:1 ratio during three months. 161 of each of these plants were used as control. The experimental design was a randomized complete block in 4 replicates. The size of the studied parts of the targeted plants was highly enhanced in three months in response to the use of the mixture. The leaves of Ocimum gratissimum L. treated shew an average of 22 cm of length and 7.7 cm of width while those of the control shew an average length of 8 cm and 4.8 cm of width. Concerning the leaves of Talinum fruticosum L. treated, they measured 10.1 cm of length and 4 cm of width in average and those of the control 4.1 cm of length and 2 cm of width in average. Peasants could thus save a lot of money by using their excreta and some of their sewages as fertilizers to promote the sustainable development of their ecosystems. Further lab analysis on water from cooked beans alone and on the mixture made of human urine and water from cooked beans could ease in the future the acquirement of new knowledge about them. The consequence of that improvement will simply be the capitalization of those fluids as source of easily absorbable nutrients for plants nutrition
Manipulation of Chemical Properties in Soil under Wetland Rice through Industrial Effluents
No full textA laboratory experiment was conducted in Soil Science Division of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) during 2010-11 aimed to determine the effects of different industrial effluents on some soil chemical properties under long-term industrial wastewater irrigated rice field. Effluents irrigation created some differences in soil pH, electrical conductivity and organic carbon. The pH in all soil depth was higher with wastewater irrigated rice field. Irrigation with wastewater increased in all the effluents irrigated rice fields; the electrical conductivity (EC) was remarkable higher with all soil depth than the control field. In all the rice fields soil (Control + effluents irrigated fields), the organic carbon content (%) started to decrease sharply with the increase in soil depth. Organic carbon content was slightly higher with wastewater irrigated rice soils. Exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K and Na), trace elements (Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu) and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr and Ni) were increased through irrigation with wastewater in rice–rice cropping pattern
Effect of Bio- and Synthetic- Polymers on Enhancing Soil Physical Properties and Lettuce Plant Production
No full textMost of new reclaimed soils in Egypt are light to medium in texture. They are mainly poor in physical and hydro-physical soil quality such as porosity, water retention capacity and available water content. The objective is to assess some bio-polymers and synthetic polymers to test their effects on the soil physical and hydro-physical properties and on Lettuce plant production.
Seven treatments were applied using bio-polymers (2%dextran, 3%alginate and 3% xanthan) and two synthetic polymers (2 and 3% polyacrylamide and 2 and 3% diaper). These polymers were cheeked for their efficiency in enhancing soil properties of Toshka soil and the growth performance of Lettuce plant (Lactuca sativa) grown in soil for 55 days under open field conditions was considered.
Fresh and dry weights of plant and nutrient contents were increased significantly with all bio-treatments amendment. Whereas, synthetic polymers caused negative effects on the previously mentioned parameters.
Concerning the effects on soil properties, dextran treatment recorded the lowest values of total drainable pores (TDP %), the highest values of porosity (%), and available water. Whereas, the synthetic polymers amended soil attained negative effect with all these measured parameters compared with control treatment.
The study declared beneficial order of enhancement of soil physical and hydro-physical properties and plant production as obtained with Dextran, followed by Alginate, and Xanthan bio-polymers, while synthetic polymers did not show such effects. Hence, the study recommend using bio- polymers instead of synthetic polymers
Amendment of Acidic Soil with Lime and Manure for Enhancing Fertility, Nutrient Uptake and Yield of Wheat-Mungbean-Monsoon Rice in the Old Himalayan Piedmont Plain
No full textSoil acidic conditions and the decline in soil fertility are among the critical factors that constraint higher crop productivity in the Old Himalayan Piedmont Plain (OHPP), Bangladesh. The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of lime and manure on soil fertility, nutrients and yields of wheat, mungbean and rice. Experiments were done at Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) farm and farmer field over two consecutive years with the cropping pattern, namely wheat-mungbean-transplanted (T.) aman rice/monsoon rice. The varieties used were Bijoy for wheat, BARI mung6 for mungbean and Bina dhan7 for T. aman rice. There were nine treatment combinations with three lime levels (0, 1 and 2 ton dololime ha-1) and three manure treatments (poultry manure, farmyard manure and no manure) with three replications. The rate of poultry manure was 3 t ha-1 and that of farmyard manure was 5 t ha-1. Nutrients from manure sources were supplemented with chemical fertilizers to adjust recommended dose. Lime was added to the first crop for entire two crop cycles and manures were applied to the first crop of each crop cycle. Soil pH increased by 0.5-1.11 units, the higher values were observed with higher rates of lime application. Soil organic matter (SOM) increased slightly due to manure treatment. Soil phosphorus availability increased, zinc and boron availability decreased, but the potassium and sulphur availability remained almost unchanged after liming. Application of lime and manure had significant positive effect on the yield of wheat, and their positive residual effects on mungbean and T. aman rice. The effect of 1 t lime ha-1 was comparable with that of 2 t lime ha-1. Between two manures, poultry manure performed better than FYM on crop yields. The trend of plant nutrient uptake by wheat, mungbean and rice followed the trend of these crops yield increase, i.e., crops that were able to uptake more nutrients shown higher yields. The treatment combinations with 1 t ha-1 lime and 3 t ha-1 poultry manure produced an average 35-55% yield benefit over control for the first crop (wheat) and 41-43% yield benefit for the third crop (T. aman rice). This study suggests that dololime @ 1 t ha-1 coupled with poultry manure @ 3 t ha-1 or FYM @ 5 t ha-1 would be an efficient practice for better soil acidic condition, soil fertility and productivity of crops in the Himalayan piedmont soil of Bangladesh
Influence of Soil Arsenic Levels on Biomass Production and Relationship the Concentration of Arsenic between Rice Straw and Grain
No full textArsenic (As) contamination is widespread in Bangladesh. It can cause health hazards depending on consumption of foods grown on As contaminated soil. Two pot experiments were conducted at net house, Department of Soil Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur to study the effect of As on above ground biomass of different rice genotypes and to determine the relationship of As concentration between rice grains and straw. Sixteen rice genotypes were grown in pots soils having 0, 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg As both in winter and wet seasons. Soil As levels reduced above ground biomass of rice by 8-65%. Above ground biomass reduction was the least in BRRI dhan47 with variable soil As levels. Total As concentrations in straw and grains increased with increasing soil As levels. Moreover, the concentration of As in rice grain was also increased with greater As concentration in straw. Grain to straw ratio of As concentration was lower at higher As concentration in straw. It is indicated that reduced movement of As from rice straw to grain take place when straw As concentration was high
Growth and Yield Performance of Some Lowland Rice Varieties Applied with Different Rates of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers
No full textAims: This study was conducted to formulate appropriate fertilization scheme for some rice varieties used at University Income Generating Project (UIGP) sites of Central Mindanao University (CMU), Philippines and to determine the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on some soil chemical properties.
Study Design: Split-plot in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in three replications with 5 levels of inorganic and organic fertilizers as main plot factor and 3 rice varieties as sub-plot factor.
Place and Duration of Study: UIGP area of CMU, Musuan, Bukidnon, the Philippines from November 2015 to May 2016.
Methodology: Plots were laid out following Split-plot in RCBD in 3 replications. The 5 levels of Fertilizers were: no fertilizer (control), 90-60-60 kg NPK/ha, 2t vermicompost/ha, 45-30-30 kg NPK/ha + 2t vermicompost/ha and 90-60-60kg NPK/ha + 2t vermicompost/ha while the three rice varieties were: Matatag 11, NSIC Rc158 and NSIC Rc238. The initial characteristics of the soil served as the basis for the recommended rate of inorganic fertilizer application at 90-60-60 kg NPK/ha.
Results: Analysis of variance showed that interaction between the levels of fertilizers and varieties were not significant for all agronomic and yield parameters except the number of days to 50% flowering implying that the varieties had a similar response to the levels of fertilizers. Results revealed that the levels of fertilizers significantly affected plant height at 30 (P = 0.011) and at 50 days after transplanting, DAT (P = 0.006), productive tiller count (P = 0.002), % filled grains (P = 0.026), and grain yield (P = 0.003) while the varieties significantly differed in plant height at 50 DAT (P = 0.006), number of days to 50% (P = 0.001) and 100% flowering (P = 0.001), % filled grains (P = 0.039), 1,000 grain weight (P = 0.009) and grain yield (P = 0.044). When averaged across varieties, grain yields were increased by fertilizer application with 90-60-60 + 2t vermicompost/ha giving significant increase of 2.14 t/ha (vs control) and 90-60-60 kg NPK/ha, 2t vermicompost/ha, and 45-30-30 + 2t vermicompost/ha giving not significant increases of 1.26, 0.36 and 1.05 t/ha, respectively. NSIC Rc238 had the highest grain yield that was significantly higher than that of NSIC Rc158 but not with that of Matatag 11. Moreover, soil pH, organic matter and extractable phosphorus (P) contents of the experimental plots after harvest were significantly influenced by vermicompost and inorganic fertilizer application (P = 0.01) with plots applied with vermicompost exhibiting significantly higher pH values and organic matter contents compared to those plots with no fertilizer and those applied with inorganic fertilizers alone.
Conclusion: Findings of the study disclosed that vermicompost is an effective organic amendment to improve soil pH, soil organic matter content and rice productivity in Maapag soil and its application at 2t/ha in combination with 90-60-60 kg NPK/ha gave the highest grain yields of Matatag, NSIC Rc158 and NSIC Rc238 at 6.23, 6.10 and 6.75 t/ha, respectively that were higher than their average yields but lower than their maximum yields
Impact of Trichoderma Enhanced Composting Technology in Improving Soil Productivity
No full textObjectives: The study was conducted to determine (i) suitable waste, its quantity and dose of Trichoderma harzianum suspension and (ii) the impact of tricho-compost application on soil productivity.
Materials and Methods: Soil properties were tested before and after application of Trichoderma enhanced composting technology at five different districts of North-West Bangladesh. RCBD was used in the experiment where six biodegradable substratum were used and mixed with Trichoderma suspension in each pit. These six substratums were mixed with five doses of Trichoderma suspension i.e., 0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 ml per 100 kg substratum with three replications and therefore 90 pits were prepared to conduct the experiment. Nutrient content like N, P, K, B, S, Zn, soil pH and organic carbon were analysed in the laboratory.
Results and Discussion: Among the composting materials potato plant, water hyacinth, cowdung and household waste produced better compost than rice stubble and bio-slurry. Trichoderma suspension dose on 100 kg substratum 750 and 1000 ml showed better efficacy than other doses in terms of decomposition time, quantity of produced composed and nutrient value. The status of nutrient in soil were compared before and after interventions of Trichoderma suspension by means of using paired t-test and found that soil pH, K, S, Zn, N and B were increased significantly, where as organic carbon slightly increased but not significant changed and P decreased significantly.
Conclusion: There should be ample scope to be created tricho-compost everywhere for soil improvement for better crop production towards food security and improved livelihoods