Asian Soil Research Journal
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Geochemical, Index, and Strength Appraisals of Granite-derived Residual Soils
No full textThis research work examined the geochemical, index, and strength properties of lateritic residual soils from granitic parent rock in Akure, southwestern Nigeria. The aim is to underscore the potential use of such soils as engineering fills materials. The geochemical method involved the use of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). The major oxides determined from this analysis were used for the geochemical quantifications of the soils. Analysis of soil index properties involved consistency limits, grain size distribution and specific gravity tests, while the strength analysis involved compaction and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests. Results obtained from the index analysis classified the soil profile into behavioral groups VII and VI. These indicates that the soils are of high to intermediate plasticity and compressibility. The UCS values vary from 272.6 to 377.2 kPa while the shear strength values range from 138.8 to 188.6kPa, indicating good bearing capacity. The geochemical results revealed iron-oxide variations as the major influential constituent within the soil profile. Furthermore, the more lateriterizad zones correspond with the more competent horizons. The residual soils from the study area are found to be suitable materials in engineering construction works as Sanitary landfills and Subgrade materials
Problems and Remediation of Some Polluted Soils in Benue State, Nigeria
No full textExploitation of natural resources is a vital condition of human existence. Population growth leads to competition on the natural resources thus, creating negative impact on the environment leading to the destruction of ecosystems and pollution. The concern here is that human existence is under threat. Benue soils are shallow, underlying clay accumulation with poor internal drainage. This drainage problem often results in problems such as over flooding causing land, water, and air pollution. Crusting is also part of the problems of the soils and may lead to low infiltration and poor seedling germination and emergence. It is hereby suggested that to remedy these problems, land should be used wisely to the benefits of human existence while protecting its value for the use of future generation. Fertilizer and chemicals such as herbicides importation and manufacturing must meet specifications to safeguard the environment. Soil organic matter should be maintained through adequate fertility of the soil and soil survey to avoid failure and to protect the environment. Technology and innovations that fit easily into the existing farming systems should be adopted for easy acceptance by farmers. Importations of machines and implement must meet specifications. Indigenous engineers should be encouraged and supported by the government to design machines that are suitable for the soils and the environment
Effects of Compost Tea Application on Soil Properties, Growth and Yield of Amaranthus (Amaranthus caudatus L) in Wukari, Northern Guinea Savanna, Nigeria
No full textA study was conducted to determine the effects of compost tea application on the soil properties, growth and yield of amaranthus (Amaranthus caudatus L) in Wukari, Northern Guinea Savanna, Nigeria. The experimental variables include compost tea of 10 liters water/1 kg compost, compost tea of 20 liters water/1 kg compost, and compost tea of 30 liters waters/1 kg compost, 120 kgN/ha of urea fertilizer and no treatment. The treatment combinations were done in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), replicated trice on a land area of about 150m2 (0.015 ha) consisting of 15 plots measuring 4 m by 2 m each. The prepared compost tea had the chemical constituent in adequate quantities except for total nitrogen and the micronutrients determined. Compost tea had significant effect on most of the parameters considered. Application of the extract resulted to increase in total nitrogen, organic carbon, exchangeable magnesium and exchangeable sodium. The growth parameters; plant height and stem girth increased significantly with the application of 2.5 t/ha of compost soaked in 10 liters of waters which gave the highest yield of Amaranthus caudatus when weighed. Although the compost tea extract was effective to some extent, fortification with organic additives that will add the missing micronutrient and inorganic additives is recommended
Demonstration of Conservation Farming Practices in Improving Sorghum Yield at Tanqua-Abergelle Wereda, Ethiopia
No full textConservation agriculture (CA) technologies involve minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover through crop residues or cover crops, and crop rotations for achieving higher productivity. Today tillage is seen destroying activity that leads to decline in organic matter and destruction of soil structure. Hence, the objective of this study was then to improve soil moisture and structure through minimizing soil disturbance which can be explained by the obtained yield response of sorghum. The research was undertaken at twenty one (21) interested farmers’ piece of land (10 m x 10 m) at Tanqua Abergelle Wereda in specific sites called Sheka Tekli and Agbe tabias’, it was successful only at thirteen (13) farmer’s land at Sheka Tekli. The conservation farming practices such as basin was prepared two weeks earlier from its sowing date. Grain yield and farmers perception on each practice of conservation agriculture were collected and subjected to simple descriptive statistics. Accordingly, the grain yields obtained from tied-ridger and basin technologies were 1.6 t/ha and 1.31 t/ha, respectively. However, conventional tillage revealed the lowest grain yield of sorghum. Farmers have shown great interest and promise to adopt tie ridger than basin due to lower yield. Therefore technology promotions and popularization on the study and similar agro ecological areas should be carried out in collaboration with stakeholders
Evaluation of Growth Performance of Physic Nut (Jatropha curcas) Seedlings on Different Soils in the Northern Guinea Savanna Agrological Zone of Nigeria
No full textThe preliminary study was carried out to evaluate the growth performance of Jatropha curcas seedlings on different soils at the nursery of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization Afaka, Kaduna. Farm land soil, forest soil and granulated iron stone soil were sourced within the college premises and FRIN/JICA plantation. Jatropha curcas seedlings were sown on the different soils and each was replicated eight (8) times. The experiment was laid out in Complete Randomized Design (CRD). Growth parameters were collected forth nightly and was subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Results revealed that there are significant (P>0.05) difference in the height, stem diameter and number of leaf among the three different soil for the growth assessment. The growth rate recorded from the farm land soil are statistical higher (P>0.05) in leaf width, plant height and stem diameter than the other two soil while the growth parameters assessed were significantly lower (P>0.05) in iron stone soil and forest soil. It is recommended based on the parameters assessed that soil from the farmland gives the best result for raising and nurturing of J. curcas in the nursery without addition of any plant nutrient media
Effect of Different Levels of Potassium Fertilizer on the Yield Components of BARI Bush Bean-2
No full textA field experiment was carried out at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Farm during the Rabi season of November 2008 to March 2009 to investigate effect of different levels of potassium fertilizer on the yield components of BARI Bush Bean-2. The red brown terrace soil of Tejgaon was silty clay loam having pH 5.6. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The experiment comprises 4 levels of potassium in the form of MoP (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg potassium/ha). The results revealed that different levels of potassium showed significant variations on the yield and yield components of BARI Bush Bean-2. The treatment K40 (40 kg potassium) gave the maximum pod length (10.90 cm), pod diameter (2.95 cm), average single pod weight (5.49 g), total pod weight per plant (25.37 g), pod yield per plot (1795.83 g) and pod yield per hectare (4.38 ton). Thus the results of the experiment suggested that the use of 40 kg potassium produced highest yield of BARI Bush Bean-2 in red brown terrace soil of the Tejgaon series
GPS Based Soil Profile Study in Respect to Morphological and Nutrient Analysis in Pedon of Ganjam District
No full textGPS based two pedons- one each from up and medium land during dry season, studied in the field & analysis done in the laboratory. The difference in properties between two pedons was mostly due to lateritic and basaltic parent material in pedons. The morphology of mineral soils explains the evolution that occurs in the soil body during the process of soil formation, which is predominantly influenced by the parent material and climate. Determination of epipedon and endopedon of diagnostic horizons through description and interpretation of soil profile properties is the basis of land classification, as the knowledge of soil properties, capabilities, and utilization. The results of the study found that, based on its morphological and chemical characteristics, the soil in pedon 1 had brighter colors, higher micronutrient availability, and a thicker horizon compared to the soil in pedon 2. Meanwhile, the pedon 1 is light texture, crumb structure and pedon 2 is heavy texture and sub angular blocky structure. Both the form of density in two pedons was increasing downwards & the value were of a typical mineral soils, but the pore space showed a reverse trend on confirming the compactness and aging of soils towards subsurface horizons. Same results tendency found in micronutrients analysis where pedon 1 rich in micronutrients as compare to pedon 2
Effect of Losing Nitrogen Fertilizers on Living Organism and Ecosystem, and Prevention Approaches of their Harmful Effect
No full textThe world’s population is drastically increasing; therefore, an enormous amount of nitrogen and other fertilizers are used to produce enough food for their feeding. Furthermore, since the applied nitrogen amount is not completely absorbed by plants, its big proportion is released to the environment in different ways. The released nitrogen amount damages both humans’ health and the environment. Some technical and agronomical techniques help to minimize the loss of this nitrogen. The fertilizer\u27s loss not only affects farmers\u27 economic condition, but their effects are integrated. Nitrogen fertilizers pollute water, soil, air, as well as our foods. Leaching nitrate can cause eutrophication in sea, lakes, and water bodies. This condition poses a big threat to the lives of fish and other aquatic organisms. It also causes various diseases in humans such as blue baby syndrome, carcinoma, and others. For instance, Nitrate-N (NO3-N) leads to the blue baby syndrome, carcinoma, and other diseases in humans. NO3-N leaching stimulates the growth of blue-green algae and creates hypoxic zones in the water. Moreover, cyanobacteria produce toxins that affect the liver`, kidney, brain, skin, and other parts of the human body, as well as cause complicated diseases. Ammonia and nitrogen oxides contribute to acid rains and have adverse effects on ecosystems. Nitrous oxides (N₂O) deplete the ozone layer, a layer that prevents harmful rays from reaching the earth. N₂O contributes extremely to global warming due to its potentiality. Although Nitrogen fertilizers have contributed to produce high yields in the world, their excessive application has created different problems in our environment. To reduce nitrogen leaching, some agronomical, technical, and other practices are required to be used in the large and small farming system
Comparative Growth and Ions Response to Phosphorus Application for Two Brassica Species under Salt Stress
No full textThe genetic level differences between Brassica species can have potential impact on their performance under salt stress conditions together with Phosphorus and Potassium applications. In this study we hypothesized that certain level of salt stress mitigation can be done with applications of Phosphorus and Potassium solutions. Germinated seeds of Brassica juncea (var. Khanpur raya) and B. napus (Faisal canola), raised to 10 days seedlings stage and transferred to continuously aerated nutrient solution For salt stress, applied NaCl @60 mM in the nutrient solution’ also applied phosphorus as potassium di hydrogen phosphate (PDP) @ 0 and 10 mM in triplicates. Khanpur raya and Faisal canola responded significantly (p< 0.01) to the application of PDP for growth and ions relations under salt stress and non-stress. Under stress conditions, shoot fresh mass (SFM) of Khanpur raya increased 10 percent with 10 mM of applied PDP than its control whereas SFM of Faisal canola increased 8 percent than its control. Root fresh mass (RFM) of Khanpur raya increased 8 percent with 10 mM of applied PDP than its control whereas RFM of Faisal canola increase 10 percent than its control. Dry mass of Khanpur raya increased 11 percent with 10 mM of applied PDP than its control whereas SDM of Faisal canola increased 6 percent than its control. Root dry mass (RDM) of Khanpur raya increased 18 percent with 10 Mm of applied PDP than its control whereas RDM of Faisal canola increased 19 percent than its control. In Khanpur raya Na+ /K+ ratio decreased 21 percent than the control, whereas this ratio decreased 24 percent in Faisal canola than its control. Under salt stress, physiological P-use in shoot and root of Khanpur raya increased 11 and 8 percent respectively than that of Faisal canola
Evaluation of Sesame Yield and Yield Component under Different NPSZnB Fertilizer Rates in Western Tigray, Ethiopia
No full textSesame is one of the most popular oil crops in the Western Tigray Ethiopia. Blended fertilizers containing N, P, S, Zn and B have been recommended to ameliorate site specific nutrient deficiencies in different districts of Tigray. Field experiment was conducted during rainfall season of 2018 and 2019 to study the effect of NPSZnB fertilizer on sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in vertisols of Western Tigray at the Humera station, Banat and Kebabo Kafta Humera and Tsegede Wereda’s. The treatments consisted of six levels of NPSZnB 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 kg ha-1 and one blanket recommendation NP was applied. Data were recorded on sesame yield and yield components. The results revealed that addition of graded rate of NPSZnB significantly increased yield and yield attributes over the control. Analysis of variances showed that grain yield, number of capsule per plant, number of seeds per capsule and number of branching per plant was significant differences at (P< 0.001). Grain yield increases from 421 kg ha-1 to 630.1 kg ha-1 as NPSZnB increases from 0 (control) to 150 kg ha-1 and 421 kg ha-1 to 626.2 kg ha-1 as NP increases from 0 (control) to 41 N kg and 46 P205 kg ha-1 respectively. But NPSZnB was not significant with blanket recommendation of NP (41 kg N and 46 kg P205 ha-1), this indicates that either the blend or blanket NP can be used but not one to replace the other