Asian Soil Research Journal
Not a member yet
217 research outputs found
Sort by
Early Growth Response of Irvingia gabonensis Seedlings to Cowdung and NPK Fertilizer Application
No full textPlants, unlike animals are naturally able to synthesize whatever compounds they need, require more than a dozen different elements [majorly Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK)] as such. This study investigated the effect(s) of application of cow dung (CD) and NPK fertilizer on the early growth response of Irvingia gabonensis. Top soil samples of between 0 – 15 cm depth (control group I), top soil + NPK (Group II), top soil + cow dung (Group III) and top soil + NPK + cow dung (Group IV) were collected at varying combinations. The soils were then taken to the laboratory for physio-chemical analysis of key components [pH, N, P, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, Org. C, sand, silt and clay]. Prior to and after actual experimentation, the N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, pH constituents of the cow dung were also analysed. For every two weeks (in twenty weeks duration) after application, plant heights, leaf area, number of leaf, stem girth were obtained and noted. By way of a sensitive weighing machine, 20 WAP destructive sampling was conducted to determine the weights of the shoot and root after oven-drying for three days in an oven sets at 75°C. In any case, these samples were then analysed for the nutrient content of the stem, root and leaf. Following data collection, comparisons of mean differences was performed using the Fishers protected least significant test and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level of probability. Upon careful observation of result, study found that Irvingia gabonensis seedlings grown with cow-dung and NPK combination (Group IV) performed better in growth (height, diameter and leaf area) than seedlings grown in only top soil medium (TS) with single fertilizer use (Group II). However, NPK 3 CD 3, NPK 3 CD 2 and NPK 2 CD 3 best support the early growth phase of Irvingia gabonensis seedlings as compared to others. Study therefore showed Cow dung to contain substantial amount of essential elements that may be beneficial for the physio-chemical growth of Irvingia wombolu seedlings and combating reports of deforestations across the globe. It is recommended that for better results, cow-dung and NPK mixtures should be used than single use of the either treatments. Further studies aimed at corroborating this research are also recommended
Soil Quality as Affected by Municipal Solid Waste Dumping
No full textThis paper presents soil quality as affected by dumped municipal solid waste. Landfill leachate was collected from a hole dug 10 m away from the waste dump site for laboratory analysis. Soil samples were also collected from four trial pits in the dumpsites at the depth of 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 m and at a distance of 10, 20, 30 m and the control 100 m away from the dumping site. The collected soil samples were subjected to physiochemical and geotechnical analysis. This includes particle size distribution, pH, EC, total organic carbon, total organic matter, extractable micronutrients and heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cl and Ni), Attterberg limits, specific gravity and hydraulic conductivity. The physicochemical concentration was then compared with the maximum allowable concentrations of chemical constituents in uncontaminated soil. The Laboratory analysis shows high value of pH (8.51) DO (0.17 mg/l), COD (68mg/l), BOD5 (324 mg/l), Pb (0.31 mg/l) and Cd (0.06 mg/l) in the leachate sample. The physical properties of the soil near the dumpsite indicated that the soil belongs to sandy loam in texture. pH (6.3-8.32), Electrical conductivity (241-2018 s/cm), total organic carbon (0.24-2.16 ) and total organic matter (0.41-3.73%) were higher near the vicinity of the dumpsite and decreased with increase in the depth and distance. Extractable micro nutrient and heavy metal concentration (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cl and Ni) were also found to be high near the dumpsite and decreased along the soil depth and distance from the dumping site. The variance in the geotechnical properties of soil revealed by the test results was impacted by the dumped municipal solid waste. These effects decrease with increase in depth. These findings will help in facilitating the invention and introduction of site specific technologies. 
Some Considerations Regarding the Presence of Heavy Metals in Soil and the Human Body
No full textUntil now, there have been laborious researches regarding the presence of heavy metals in environmental factors but their effects have been studied less in the bio-geo-chemical circuits, respectively within the local trophic chains and the regional trophic networks. Naturally, the metals existing in the earth\u27s crust enter the bio-geo-chemical cycles. In the cells of higher organisms, as we know, there is a fragile balance between the amounts of metals needed for catalytic processes and toxic doses to organisms. However, this balance is dependent not only on the concentration and variety of metals in the Earth\u27s crust but also on the microbiological activity of environmental factors, responsible for the transformation of these metals into complex chemical substances that affect more or less the organisms, respectively their enzymatic activity. The vital-necessary, but also the non-vital mineral substances in their mobile forms, which may at one time be toxic to organisms, are significantly pushed out by anthropic activities into trophic chains. They are present in environmental factors such as soil, air, water, reach the body of plants and the body of animals. Plants and animals can bioaccumulate and concentrate in their bodies several chemical elements in the environment, regardless of their origin, which is then easily transferred through food circuits into the human body. Thus, through local trophic chains, respectively through regional trophic networks, contamination of the human body takes place. This requires the need for a measure of most likely high complexity to mitigate the effects with a strong impact on the health status, including that of the human psychic. In severe cases of contamination, behavioral manifestations, especially among the vulnerable population, are proven
Response of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) to Potassium and Sulfur Application at Kafta Humera District, Western Tigray, Northern Ethiopia
No full textPotassium and sulfur are among the most important nutrients limiting sesame production. EthioSIS soil testing map indicate that nutrients such as K and S are deficient in the study site. Study was carried out to investigate response of sesame to K and S application at Humera Agricultural Research Center, Kafta Humera district, Tigray, Ethiopia in 2016 main cropping season. Treatments consisted four levels of potassium (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg K2O ha-1 as KCl) and four levels of sulfur (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg ha-1 as CaSO4.2H2O). The experiment was laid out as Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in factorial arrangement with three replications using Setit-1 sesame variety. Soil sample was taken, result of soil analysis revealed that the soil was clayey textural class, neutral in soil reaction (pH = 7.35), low organic matter content (0.73%), very low total N (0.03 %) and very low available P (0.74 mg kg-1), high soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) (40 cmol(+) kg-1), medium exchangeable K (0.26 cmol(+) kg-1) and low extractable sulfur (4.78 mg kg-1). Maximum sesame grain yields (1371.67 kg ha-1) was obtained from plot treated with 20 kg K2O ha-1 + 40 kg S ha-1 which resulted 145.3% increase over the control plot`s yield. From plots fertilized with K and S levels at a rate of 20 kg K ha-1 and 40 kg S ha-1 was obtained higher yield of sesame. It is conclude, therefore, it will be good to promote K and S for further demonstration
Development of Land Management Technology for Continuous Jhum Cultivation in Hilly Area of Bangladesh
No full textThe experiments were conducted in three hill district of Bangladesh i.e. Bandarban, Khagrachari and Rangamati under the Agro Ecological Zone (AEZ) 29 (Northern and Eastern Hills Tract) during March 2018 to November 2019 to study the fertilizers packages, NPK briquette and residual effect of fertilizers for continuous jhum cultivation. In this experiments, jhum crops were used as the test crop. The experiment was designed on Randomized Completely Block Design. The treatments consider as normal fertilizers packages (N60P20K30 S12 kg/ha), NPK briquette (N50P20K30 S12 kg/ha) and residual effect of fertilizers instead of farmers practice. By different fertilizers packages the results showed that the highest yield of Jhum rice was 3.81 tha-1 at Khagrachari, Maize (0.436 tha-1) at Rangamati, Sweet gourd (1.679 tha-1) at Bandarban, Chili (0.348 tha-1) at Khagrachari, Sesame (0.361 tha-1) at Bandarban and Marpha (Cucumis sativus) (0.742 tha-1) at Bandarban over farmers’ practice. Instead of normal fertilizer application, fertilizer NPK briquette was used with the highest yield of rice was 4.18 t ha-1 at Khagrachari, Maize (0.674 tha-1) at Bandarban, Sweet gourd (1.06 tha-1) at Bandarban, Chili (0.514 tha-1) at Khagrachari, Sesame (0.753 tha-1) at Khagrachari and Marpha (0.316 tha-1) at Khagrachari. After cultivation of jhum crops another short duration leguminous crops could be cultivated without fertilizers management. The highest yield of cowpea (1.043 tha-1) was obtained at Bandarban site. Yard long bean and Bean yield was also obtained 1.02 and 1.5 tha-1 respectively
Effect of Different Organic Manures on the Growth and Yield of Water melon (Citrullus Ianatus)
No full textField experimental trials were carried out at Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka. Kaduna located between latitude 100 35”N and longitude 07°21”E at altitude 644m above sea level to compare the effect of different application of organic manures on growth and yield of water melon (Citrullus Ianatus). Two trials were conducted between the early onset of rain in April and post monsoon in October 2011 and the mean of the two trials were taken. The treatments were poultry manure, mixture of poultry manure plus goat/ sheep manure, goat/ sheep manure and control(no manure). The treatments were replicated four times in randomized complete block design. Data were collected on growth parameters such as plant vines length, Number of branches per plant, number of leaves and yield parameters like fruits weight, fruits diameter and number of fruits. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and the mean separated using Least Significant Difference. The results showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) in plant vine length. The plots treated with poultry droppings had the highest value of plant vine length of 8.20, 137.90 and 216.30 cm at 2, 4 and 6 weeks after planting. Poultry droppings also gave the highest values for the weight of fruit (10.72 Kg) and diameter of fruit (53.25 mm). The best treatment is poultry manure which has the highest yield of 34.25% at 2.5 tonnes per hectare. Poultry manure showed positive effect on all the growth and yield parameters of water melon (Citrullus lanatus) measured. The use of poultry manure is therefore recommended for farmers in the study area in order to be able to obtain good yield of water melon
Growth of Wheat and Na+/ K+ Ratio under Neutral and Alkaline Salts Stress
No full textSaline soils contain multiple types of soluble salts. Role of alkaline salts (AS) may be different than neutral salts (NS) for crop growth. Usually these types of salinity frequently co-exist. Neutral salts generally induce osmotic stress and ion-induced injury to growing crop plants. Behavior of AS may be different due to high pH. This study was conducted to see the response of wheat growth and Na+/ K+ ratio under AS and NS application as nutrient solution study. Germinated disinfected seeds of wheat (Cv. Pak-13) and raised in sand. Ten days seedlings were transferred to pots containing standard nutrients solution, with the application of 30 and 60 mM of NS (NaCl, Na2SO4) and AS (NaHCO3 and Na2CO3) separately in 1:1 ratio using complete randomize design in triplicates. The seedling growth period in salt solution comprised 33 days. Biomass and the selected inorganic ions were affected significantly (p< 0.01) under salt stress. The magnitude of loss of bio mass was 11 percent higher in AS than that of NS application. Phosphorus and sulphur concentration were lower 10 and 7 percent with AS than NS respectively besides high Na+/K+ ratio and pH. Further such studies on salt tolerant crop varieties can be carried out to differentiate response under different types of salts
Response of Cocoyam (Xanthosoma mafafa) Growth, Yield Parameters and Soil Physical Properties of Ultisol at Umudike, Southeastern Nigeria
No full textAim: To determine the effect of different rates of sawdust (SD) and poultry manure (PM) applied on some soil physical properties of acid sandy Ultisol, and some growth parameters and yield of cocoyam.
Study Design: 2 x 5 factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design replicated three times.
Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted in Eastern farm of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike during 2014 and 2015 planting seasons.
Methodology: The treatments comprised of two manure sources at five levels each: sawdust (0, 2, 10, 15 and 20t/ha) and poultry manure (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8t/ha). The treatments were assigned randomly to the plots and incorporated into the soil two weeks before planting. Data were collected on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, corms, cormels and total yield. Soil samples were collected with core samplers for physical properties such as Soil Bulk density and Total Porosity. All the data collected were subjected to ANOVA for factorial experiment in RCBD at 5% probability level.
Results: The result showed that the interactions of poultry manure and sawdust significantly (p<0.05) improved soil bulk density and total porosity with the lowest value obtained with 0t/ha SD + 8t/ha PM in both 2014 and 2015. The result showed that the interactions of poultry manure and sawdust significantly (p<0.05) increased the leaf area with the highest value obtained with 20t/ha SD + 8t/ha PM in both 2014 and 2015. Also, only the increasing rates of treatment applied significantly (p<0.05) increased the number of leaves, plant height, leaf area and cocoyam yield with the highest value obtained with 20t/ha SD + 8t/ha PM. Also, the various rates of treatment application significantly (p<0.05) increased the cocoyam yield (weight of corms and cormels) with the highest value obtained with 20t/ha SD + 8t/ha PM.
Conclusion: Improvement in growth and yield of cocoyam resulted from the improved nutrient status of the soil as a result of the amendments applied
Influence of Spent Engine Oil Pollution and Organic Amendment on Soil Physicochemical Properties, Microbial Population and Growth of Capsicum annuum (L.)
No full textThis study investigated the impacts of spent engine oil on the physicochemical properties of soil, soil\u27s microbial population and growth of Capsicum annuum. It covered assessment of different levels of contamination (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80%) in soil; which represents the degree of oil spillage concentration on the growth performance of C. annuum investigated. Percentage germination, seedling height, number of leaves and number of branches decreased as the concentrations of the spent engine oil in soil samples increased and affected soil physicochemical properties. The screening experiment conducted showed that poultry manure improved the physicochemical properties of sandy loam soils contaminated engine oil. The effects of poultry manure as an organic amendment was assessed using pepper (C. annuum) as test crop. All amendment made significant increase in soil organic carbon and calcium content over the polluted soils. Soil acidity increased, soil exchangeable ions decreased. N, P and K were altered in the polluted soils as compared to the controls. There were increased bacterial counts (2.21 – 2.85) and a decrease in fungi population (0.48 - 0.59) in the spent engine oil-contaminated soils compared with the control. The oil reduced germination percentage, depressed growth, reduction in leaf number and plant height of the C. annuum. Therefore the spent engine oil clearly had detrimental effects on soil\u27s physicochemical and biological properties. The oil contributed largely to the extreme acidic nature of the polluted soils. However, maximum increase in plant height, germination percentage, number of leaves and branches were recorded with amendment of the polluted soils with poultry manure. Results show the considerable potential of remediation protocols with poultry manure as a remediating agent for oil spill remediation in the soil samples
A Comparative Assessment of Soil Series Wise Fertility in Bheramara Upazilla of Kushtia District of Bangladesh between the Years 1995 to 2016
No full textAims: An experiment to quantify the changes in soil fertility in terms of available nutrient content was carried out between 1995 to 2016.
Study Design: The design of the study was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD).
Place and Duration of Study: Bheramara upazilla of Kuahtia district in Bangladesh; between the years 1995 (considered as base line database) to 2016.
Methodology: Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) conducted semi-detailed soil survey at Bheramara upazilla of Kushtia district in 1995 and collected 18 soil samples and analyzed in the laboratory for chemical parameters. These data considered as baseline information for the present study (2016) and 18 soil samples were collected from the same or adjacent sampling point in 1995. Land use, organic matter application, crop yield and fertilizer use related information were also collected during the survey. Chemical analysis was performed in the regional laboratory, SRDI, Kushtia by following standard methods.
Results: Results revealed that soil pH and boron decreased significantly in most of the soil series. Organic Matter in all the series except Ganges silt significantly increased over the year. The variation in potassium content over the year was insignificant in all soil series except Sara series. In some soil series phosphorus and sulfur either increased or decreased over the year while soil zinc content did not varied significantly over the year.
Conclusion: Soil nutrient data of the study area revealed that most of the parameters assessed showed positive direction towards fertility development due to agricultural knowledge development and advance soil and fertilizer management practices