Continuous cultivation of West African soils: Organic matter diminution and effects of applied lime and phosphorus

1971 ◽  
Vol 35 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 401-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Brams





1994 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Feller ◽  
E. Frossard ◽  
M. Brassard

The objectives of this work were: (i) to study the acid monophosphoesterase activity (pH 6.5) of the surface horizons of low-activity tropical clay soils (West Africa, West Indies, Brazil), cultivated or uncultivated, with widely different textures and organic matter (OM) contents, (ii) to measure the phosphatase activity (Pase) in the organic and organo-mineral soil fractions obtained by particle size fractionation. Pase was most significantly correlated to the soil OM content and to a lesser extent to the texture and total P content. Therefore, any modification in soil management resulting in important changes in soil OM contents, leads to important variations in phosphatase activity: Pase decreases after clearing of the native vegetation and continuous cultivation, Pase increase when grass-fallows or meadows succeed to annual cropping. The Pase of all the size fractions (20–2000 μm, 2–20 μm and 0–2 μm) was controled by their OM content. However, the "potential Pase" defined as the ratio Pase/C was higher in the 20- to 2000-μm and 0- to 2-μm fractions than in the 2–20 μm ones This is attributed to a higher Pase renewal by root restitutions in the plant debris fraction (20–2000 μm) and by microbial activity and microbial metabolites in the organo-clay fraction (0–2 μm). More than 50% of the soil total Pase was associated with fractions coarser than 2 μm. Most of the changes in Pase (75–100%) associated with the cultivation were ascribed to these fractions. This illustrate the probably important role of the fractions coarser than 2 μm in the phosphorus dynamics in these soils. Key words: Phosphomonoesterase, organic matter, particle size fractionation, low-activity tropical clay soils



Soil Research ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 323 ◽  
Author(s):  
JO Skjemstad ◽  
RC Dalal

The nature of a number of humic fractions extracted from the 0-0.1 m layers of two cracking clay soils was studied using 13C nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy. By comparing samples from sites under native vegetation and nearby sites which had been under continuous cultivation for cereal cropping for 35 years, two different mechanisms which act to protect organic matter against decline are evident. In both grey clays (Langlands-Logie clay) and black earths (Waco clay), a large proportion of the organic matter receives some degree of protection through association with clay. In grey clays, this is the only significant form of protection. The humic materials display little molecular recalcitrance and contain significant amounts of long alkyl chains and proteinaceous groups. In black earths, association of organic matter with clay is also the most significant factor but, in addition, the remaining humic materials are more stable to microbial attack. This results from higher aromaticity as well as shorter, more highly branched alkyl chains. Some implications of these findings are also discussed.



1992 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. O. Aweto ◽  
O. Obe ◽  
O. O. Ayanniyi

SUMMARYSoils in farmlands near Ibadan, Nigeria, where shifting or continuous cultivation of cassava intercropped with maize is practised, were sampled in February 1990 and their characteristics compared with those of similar, uncultivated, forest soil. Organic matter, total nitrogen, exchangeable calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium, cation exchange capacity and pH were lower in the cultivated soils. Continuous cultivation exerted a greater effect on soil organic matter, total nitrogen and available phosphorus status then did shifting cultivation. It is suggested that inorganic and organic fertilizers and mulch should be applied to cultivated soil to conserve the soil nutrients. Fallows of 3–6 years following 1–3 years of cropping appeared incapable alone of adequately restoring soil fertility. They should, therefore, be supplemented with fertilizer applications.



2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-121
Author(s):  
T. A. Adegbola ◽  
A. A. Adeleye ◽  
Y. D. Yoila

Energy requirement for maintenance and weight gain of non-lactating, non-pregnant West African Dwarf ewes were determined by using equation of the form DOMI           = aw0.75 + bG........ (1) where, DOMI = Digestible Organic matter intake (kg/day), W = Liveweight of ewe (kg), G = Liveweight gain of ewe (kg/day), a = DOMI requirement per kg of Wkg0.75,  b = DOMI requirement for each kilogram liveweight gain. The regression equation obtained was DOMI = 0.0385Wkg 0.75 + 1.54G........(2). The values of DOM required per kilogram of Wkg0.75 and for each kilogram of liveweight gain, were 0.0385 and 1.54kg respectively. In terms of Metabolizable energy (ME) equation (2) can be written as follows: ME = 523.50Wkg0.75 + 20940.92G........(3) Values of ME required per kilogram of Wkg0.75 and each kilogram of liveweight gain were 523.5 and 20940.92 KJ from equation 3. These results are comparable to those obtained for other breeds of sheep of both temperate and tropical origin.





2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 304-315
Author(s):  
O. O. Adelusi ◽  
V. O. A. Ojo

Nutritive value of low quality crop residues is improved with addition of protein–rich byproducts (poultry litter) or chemical compounds (urea) and can serve as feed resource to ruminant during the dry season. This study investigated the nutrient digestibility and blood parameters of West African dwarf (WAD) sheep fed sugarcane top silage. Sugarcane tops were ensiled alone (control) or with 2% urea (USCT silage), 45% boiler litter (BLSCT silage) and 1% urea plus 22.5% broiler litter (UBLSCT) for 42 days. Each silage treatment contains 2% molasses. Twenty-four female West African dwarf sheep of 6-8 months of age, weighing 14.58±1.16kg were randomly assigned to the four silage treatments of six animals each in a completely randomised design for 84 days. Chemical composition of the silages was determined. Performance characteristics, apparent nutrient digestibility and blood parameters of the WAD sheep were evaluated. All data were subjected to one way Analysis of Variance. Results showed that animals fed BLSCT had significantly highest (P<0.05) total dry matter intake (64.26g/kgW ) and daily weight gain (46.03 g/day) followed by those on UBLSCT and USCT while animals fed control diet recorded the least with highest feed conversion ratio (20.62). Digestibility of all nutrients was highest (P<0.05) in sheep fed BLSCT (71.43%,71.16%, 75.66%, 64.35% and 56.82% for dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, NDF and ADF digestibility respectively) and lowest (55.71%, 57.31%, 59.98%, 39.47% and 46.92% for dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, NDF andADF digestibility respectively ) in those on control diet. Similarly, sheep fed BLSCT recorded significant highest (P < 0.05) packed cell volume (32.17%), haemoglobin (10.82g/dL) and red blood cell (13.43 x10 /L). The serum glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin and blood urea concentration were similar (P > 0.05) but higher in animals fed BLSCT (3.94 mmol/L, 71.80 g/L, 37.00 g/L, 34.80 g/L and 130.55 mg/L, respectively) USCT(3.83 mmol/L, 71.50 g/L, 35.0 g/L, 36.50 g/L and 140.65 mg/L respectively) and UBLSCT (3.75 mmol/L, 71.20 g/L, 34.50g/L, 36.70 g/L and 120.90 mg/L, respectively) compared to control. The study concluded that SCTtreated with urea or broiler litter or their combination (UBLSCT) ensiled for 42 days could be fed to ruminant during long dry season without any detrimental effect onnthe health of the animals.



Soil Research ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 206 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Chilcott ◽  
R. C. Dalal ◽  
W. J. Parton ◽  
J. O. Carter ◽  
A. J. King

Cultivation and cropping of soils results in a decline in soil organic carbon and soil nitrogen, and can lead to reduced crop yields. The CENTURY model was used to simulate the effects of continuous cultivation and cereal cropping on total soil organic matter (C and N), carbon pools, nitrogen mineralisation, and crop yield from 6 locations in southern Queensland. The model was calibrated for each replicate from the original datasets, allowing comparisons for each replicate rather than site averages. The CENTURY model was able to satisfactorily predict the impact of long-term cultivation and cereal cropping on total organic carbon, but was less successful in simulating the different fractions and nitrogen mineralisation. The model firstly over-predicted the initial (pre-cropping) soil carbon and nitrogen concentration of the sites. To account for the unique shrinking and swelling characteristics of the Vertosol soils, the default annual decomposition rates of the slow and passive carbon pools were doubled, and then the model accurately predicted initial conditions. The ability of the model to predict carbon pool fractions varied, demonstrating the difficulty inherent in predicting the size of these conceptual pools. The strength of the model lies in the ability to closely predict the starting soil organic matter conditions, and the ability to predict the impact of clearing, cultivation, fertiliser application, and continuous cropping on total soil carbon and nitrogen.



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