scholarly journals Effects of soil amendments on selected soil chemical properties and productivity of tef (Eragrostis tef [Zucc.] Trotter) in the highlands of northwest Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 702-713
Author(s):  
Yirsaw Hunegnaw ◽  
Getachew Alemayehu ◽  
Dereje Ayalew ◽  
Mulatu Kassaye

Abstract The lack of sustainable soil fertility management is a critical challenge for crop production in the world. The problem is more serious in the East Gojjam Zone highlands. Integrated use of lime, manure, and chemical fertilizers is considered as a good approach for sustainable crop production on acidic soils. In 2016 and 2017, a field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of soil amendments on soil fertility and tef productivity in the Gozamin district. Factorial combinations of two rates of lime (0 and 2 t ha−1), two rates of NP fertilizers (0/0 and 46/20 kg N/P ha−1), and three rates of cattle manure (0, 10, and 15 t ha−1) were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that applying lime in combination with NP fertilizer and manure significantly improved soil chemical properties. Panicle length, effective tillers, and thousand seeds weight of tef increased from 25.1 to 44.4 cm, 2.8 to 11.3, and 0.23 to 0.37 g, respectively, when 10 t ha−1 manure and recommended NP fertilizer were applied together. The highest tef grain yield of 2.31 t ha−1 and net benefit of 2,252.91 USD ha−1 were obtained from the interaction of 10 t ha−1 cattle manure, 46/20 kg ha−1 N/P fertilizer, and 2 t ha−1 lime. This study recommends the combined application of 2 t ha−1 lime, 10 t ha−1 cattle manure, and 46/20 kg ha−1 N/P fertilizer as an effective amendment to improve soil chemical properties and yield of tef in acidic soils of northwest Ethiopian highlands.

2021 ◽  
Vol 280 ◽  
pp. 06004
Author(s):  
Viktoriia Hetmanenko ◽  
Ievgen Skrylnyk ◽  
Anatolii Kucher ◽  
Angela Kutova ◽  
Katerina Artemieva

The intensification of crop production coupled with current declining soil fertility needs proper plant nutrition management and improved effectiveness of fertilizer use. Sustainable practices providing new soil amendments could be a useful tool to improve soil fertility and crop productivity causing economic benefits. The technology of processing local raw materials (leonardite, bentonite, and molasses) was developed to produce new soil amendments with optimal physical and chemical properties and to meet the needs of a particular crop in the nutrients. The best ratio of components was proved in a model experiment with an estimation of the full cost of final organic and organo-mineral soil amendments. In a field experiment, the effect of new soil amendments on available nutrients in Chernozem Podzolic and corn yield was studied. Two doses and methods of application (banding and broadcasting) of new soil amendments were compared taking into account its economic efficiency. Development of technologies to improve fertilizing properties of local organic materials, compliance to recommended doses, and methods of soil inputs application could increase the efficiency of crop production emerging environmental and economic benefits.


Author(s):  
M. A. Adejumobi

Soil is used in agriculture as an anchor and primary nutrient base for plants, and the types of soil and available moisture determine the species of plants that can be cultivated. Bush burning, whether as result of a wildfire or a controlled burning, affects not only the appearance of the landscape, but the quality of the soil. Bush burning method of land clearing is a traditional farming system used as a means of land clearing for crop production. This method of land clearing has both beneficial and detrimental effects on soil physical and chemical properties. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of bush burning on soil chemical properties at different soil depth of 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm respectively base on the rooting depth of crop planted. The experiment was carried out in six selected farms in Igboora, Ibarapa central Local Governmental, Oyo State. The soil sampled were collected from burnt and unburnt experimental soil and analyzed using USDA standard methods for soil analysis for the selected chemical characteristics (pH, Ca2+, Mg2+ Na+. TN and P). Two samples were taken from each burnt and un-burnt locations at depth of 0-30 and 30-60 cm. Paired t-test was used to compare means value of soil chemical properties determined from burnt and un-burnt soil. ANOVA was used for significance difference between soil from burnt and un-burnt soil. pH increased from moderately acidic to slightly acidic, phosphorus content of the soil increased greatly from un-burnt soil to burnt soil at 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm depths from 6.64 to 22.21 ppm and 3.53 to 24.95 ppm, respectively. Similarly, potassium increased from 0.27 to 0.40ppm at 0-30cm depth but decreased from 0.23 to 0.17 ppm at 30-60 cm depth. Nitrogen reduced at both depths from 0.80 to 0.76% and 0.72 to 0.68% respectively. Magnesium also increased from 1.3 cmol/kg to 2.00 cmol/kg and 1.65 to 1.75 cmol/kg at both 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm depth respectively. Whereas calcium showed a reduction from 3.17 to 2.85 cmol/kg and 1.65 to 1.45 cmol/kg at both depths. The variations observed between burnt and un-burnt soil for Ca, Mg, exchangeable acidity, pH, Nitrogen, potassium was significant at p<0.05 probability level. This indicates that bush burning has an impact on soil physical and chemical properties which may affect the suitability of the soil for crop production. Based on this, there is need for environmental education for farmers in the area in order to know the implications of bush burning on soil properties for soil sustainability which will boost food production.


Author(s):  
Esther Mwende Muindi

Liming and phosphorus (P) applications are recommended practices for improving crop production in acid soils of the tropics. Although considerable work has been done to establish liming rates for acid soils in many parts of the world, information on the effects of lime on the forms of aluminium which actively sorb P in such soils is minimal. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted at Waruhiu Farmers Training Centre, Githunguri to evaluate the effect of liming on oxalate and dithionate extractable aluminium in acid soils. Extremely (pH 4.48) and strongly (pH 4.59) acidic soils were evaluated. Four liming (CaO) rates namely 0, 2.2, 5.2 and 7.4 tonnes ha-1 for extremely acidic and 0, 1.4, 3.2, and 4.5 tonnes ha-1 for  strongly acidic soils were evaluated. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Data collected included: initial soil chemical properties, oxalate (Alo) and dithionate (Ald) aluminium levels. The tested soils had high exchangeable Al (> 2 cmol Al kg-1), Al saturation of (> 20% Al) and low extractable P values (< 15 mg P kg-1 soil). Liming significantly (p=.05) reduced Alo by 70% and 68% in extremely and strongly acidic soils respectively and Ald by 78% in both extremely and strongly acidic soils compared to control. Use of 7.4 tonnes ha-1 of lime in extremely acidic soils and 4.5 tonnes ha-1 of lime in strongly acidic soils significantly (p=.05) reduced both Alo and Ald by > 68% compared to no lime. It was, therefore, concluded that liming contributes to the reduction of soluble Alo and Ald in acid soils of the Kenya highlands leading to increased soluble P availability. Studies are required to provide short and long term optimal liming rates that reduce Alo and Ald without distabilizing availability of other nutrients in field conditions under wide range of acid soils.


Author(s):  
E. K. Kago ◽  
Z. M. Kinyua ◽  
J. M. Maingi ◽  
P. O. Okemo

The popularity of using the Inorganic and organic soil amendments is based on the current status of soil degradation that led to  decline in  fertility  of soils, resulting to low yields. The objective of current study was to evalute different  organic and inorganic  soil amendments  and their effects on soil pH and macronutrients. The study was laid out as randomized complete block design (RCBD) in split plot arrangement for two seasons. The treatments were ChalimTM, Super-hydro-grow polymer + Metham sodium, Metham sodium, Metham sodium & Orange peel, Super-hydro-grow polymer, Brassica tissues, ChalimTM + Super-hydro-grow polymer, Brassica tissue + Orange peel, Metham sodium + Super-hydro-grow polymer and Control (no amendments).  Soils were sampled from each experimental site, dried and taken to laboratories for determination of soil chemical properties both at initial and at the end of the experiment. The soil physicochemical attributes assessed included: Soil pH, nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, potassium and calcium. There was an significant increase (P≤0.05) in the concentration and availability of soil physicochemical characteristics after treatment which is an indicator of improved soil structure. Brassicae tissue +super hydrogrow polymer (BT+SHG) amendment was the best as it resulted to highest concentration   and availability of the mineral elements in the soil recording total nitrogen of 0.50 %, organic carbon 5.47 %, phosphorus 19.7 mg/kg, and potassium 1.37 %. The control exhibited the least impact on all the soil chemical properties. We recommend BT+SHG amendment to farmers to promote soil fertility which will consequently produce better yield.


Author(s):  
W. Winnie Kimiti ◽  
M. W. Mucheru-Muna ◽  
J. N. Mugwe ◽  
K. F. Ngetich ◽  
M. N. Kiboi ◽  
...  

In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), acidic soil covers 29% of the total area. About 13% of the Kenyan total land area has acidic soils, widely distributed in croplands of the central and western Kenyan regions. The high soil acidity, coupled with soil nutrient depletion, negatively affects crop productivity in the region. We conducted an on-farm experiment to determine the effect of lime, manure, and phosphatic fertilizer application, either solely or combined, on soil chemical properties, maize yield, and profitability in acidic soils of Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. The treatments were different rates of manure, lime, and P fertilizer. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block design replicated ten times in farmer’s fields. Soil sampling was done at a depth of 0-20 cm prior to the start of the experiment, after crop harvest of SR2016 and LR2017 seasons. The samples were analyzed in the laboratory following standard methods. Results showed that lime significantly increased soil pH by 10.6% during the SR2016 and by 17.7% during the LR2017. Similarly, treatments with lime reduced exchangeable acidity and increased soil available P. Treatments with inorganic fertilizers had significantly higher maize grain yield in comparison with treatments with the sole application of lime, manure, and lime + manure. Lime + fertilizer + manure treatment gave the highest average maize grain yield (5.1 t ha−1), while control gave the lowest (1.5 t ha−1) during the LR2017 season. Economic returns were low due to the prevailing low rainfall experienced during the study period during the SR2016 season. Lime combined with inorganic fertilizer treatment recorded the highest returns (128.75 USD ha-1) followed by sole inorganic fertilizer (105.94 USD ha-1) during the LR2017 season. The study recommends a combination of both lime and inorganic fertilizer for enhanced maize production and profitability in Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26
Author(s):  
NTANGMO TSAFACK Honorine ◽  

Soil fertility indices are well documented as they are directly related to land use and productivity. However, the effect of continuous intensive cultivation on the evolution of soil fertility is still poorly documented. The aim of this study was thus to assess the effect of continuous intensive cultivation on the chemical and microbiological properties of Oxic Dystrandept soils in the Western Highlands of Cameroon. Composite soil samples were taken between 0-15 cm depths on farmlands that have been subjected to continuous intensive cultivation for one, five and ten years meanwhile samples from plots that have never been cultivated served as control. The main results revealed that the ammonium contents dropped abruptly (86%-wt) from the first year of cultivation. The organic carbon (OC) content decreased from 1.81 ± 0.14 %-dm (in control) to 1.69 ± 0.09 % after one year, 1.66 ± 0.10 % after 5 years and 1.58 ± 0.07 % after 10 years. Compared to the control, available phosphorus (P) showed a 13 %-wt drop after one year, 46 % after 5 years and 85 % after 10 years. Dehydrogenase activity showed a 42 % decrease after one year, 50 % after five years and 73 % after 10 years. The other parameters were not significantly different (P<0.05) amongst treatments. Decline of soil productivity was undoubtedly related to the decrease of OC, P, microbial activity and ammonium with continuous intensive cultivation. Thus, management strategies for improved crop production should include selection suitable cropping systems and chemical methods. Keywords: Continuous intensive cultivation, enzymatic activities, soil chemical properties, Oxic Dystrandept, Cameroon western highland


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-133
Author(s):  
Putri Alfira Zuraida ◽  
Yulia Nuraini

Fertile agricultural land encourages people to carry out agricultural cultivation activities. But in general, it has decreased soil fertility because its managed intensively without recycling of organic matter and has an impact on decreasing soil fertility chemically such as soil organic carbon and pH then leads to low productivity. Soybean is an agricultural product that necessary to develop because the demand for soybean consumption in East Java Province has always increased. However, Indonesia has not been able to fulfil this demand. One of the technology innovations that can be applied to improve soil fertility that has low organic matter and to increasing soybean production by providing input of quality organic fertilizer in the form of compost (Tithonia and Cow Dung). So this research is important to determine the effect of application cow dung compost and tithonia on soil chemical properties, the growth of soybean crops, and the correlations between soil chemical properties and soybean growth. This study used a randomized block design with 6 treatments and 3 replications. The result showed that the application of tithonia and cow dung compost shows a significant effect on soil chemical properties, plant height, and the number of leaves, but didn’t show a significant effect on the number of branches in every observation. Based on the correlation analysis, the results show a positive correlation between soil chemical properties and soybean growth.


2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-95
Author(s):  
Rika Yayu Agustini ◽  
Iskandar Iskandar ◽  
Sudarsono Sudarsono ◽  
Jaswadi Jaswadi ◽  
Gusti Wahdaniyah

Coal bottom ash and cattle manure can be used as soil ameliorant. The application of coal bottom ash and cattle manure can improve the soil chemical properties, such as pH and the amounts of available nutrients in soil. The objective of the study was to understand the effect of coal bottom ash and cow manure application on soil chemical properties and heavy metal contents in soil and mustard (Brassica juncea).  A pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, including three treatment factors, i.e. age of coal bottom ash (fresh, 4 months and 2 years), dose of coal bottom ash, i.e. 0, 40 and 80 Mg ha-1, and dose of cattle manure, i.e. 0 and 10 Mg ha-1. The results show that the application of coal bottom ash and cattle manure increased the pH and the amounts of total-N, available-P and exchangeable cations (K, Ca and Mg) of the soil. The application of coal bottom ash increased the amounts of Pb, Cd and Co in the soil, but did not increase the amounts of Pb and Co in mustard, while the application of cattle manure increased the amount of Cd both in soil and mustard.  Keywords: Coal bottom ash, cattle manure, heavy metal, mustard, soil ameliorant


2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 168-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gláucia Oliveira Islabão ◽  
Marília Alves Brito Pinto ◽  
Lisiane Priscila Roldão Selau ◽  
Ledemar Carlos Vahl ◽  
Luís Carlos Timm

One of the largest strawberry-producing municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) is Turuçu, in the South of the State. The strawberry production system adopted by farmers is similar to that used in other regions in Brazil and in the world. The main difference is related to the soil management, which can change the soil chemical properties during the strawberry cycle. This study had the objective of assessing the spatial and temporal distribution of soil fertility parameters using principal component analysis (PCA). Soil sampling was based on topography, dividing the field in three thirds: upper, middle and lower. From each of these thirds, five soil samples were randomly collected in the 0-0.20 m layer, to form a composite sample for each third. Four samples were taken during the strawberry cycle and the following properties were determined: soil organic matter (OM), soil total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), soil pH (pH), cation exchange capacity (CEC) at pH 7.0, soil base (V%) and soil aluminum saturation(m%). No spatial variation was observed for any of the studied soil fertility parameters in the strawberry fields and temporal variation was only detected for available K. Phosphorus and K contents were always high or very high from the beginning of the strawberry cycle, while pH values ranged from very low to very high. Principal component analysis allowed the clustering of all strawberry fields based on variables related to soil acidity and organic matter content.


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