scholarly journals Zai Technology and Integrated Nutrient Management for Improved Soil Fertility and Increased Sorghum Yields in Kitui County, Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercy Cheruto Kebenei ◽  
Monicah Mucheru-Muna ◽  
Felista Muriu-Ng'ang'a ◽  
Charles Kimani Ndung'u
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Cattle Manure ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Cropping Seasons ◽  
The Impact

Deteriorating soil fertility, low unreliable rainfall and soil moisture stress has resulted to low crop yields among farmers of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), necessitating a search for more sustainable production practices. Zai technology has the ability to promote soil moisture retention and enhances soil fertility. A four-seasons field experiment was conducted to assess the impact of Zai technology combined with cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer on selected soil properties and sorghum yields in Kabati, Kitui County. The experiment was set up in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with eight treatments replicated thrice with sorghum Gadam as the test crop. Soil sampling was done at the beginning of the first season and at the end of the fourth season at a dept of 0–15 cm across each plot for laboratory analyses. From the results, the increase in electrical conductivity was significant at p < 0.05 in all the treatments after four cropping seasons. Total organic carbon significantly increased in Zai with cattle manure (p = 0.045), conventional with no input (p = 0.038) and conventional with cattle manure (p = 0.045). Available phosphorous significantly (p < 0.05) increased in treatments under Zai technology while total nitrogen significantly (p < 0.05) reduced after the four cropping seasons. There was a significant (p < 0.05) interactive effect of the tested factors on soil pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, and available phosphorous at the end of the experiment. Moreover, there was significant (p < 0.05) interactive effects on grain yields (SR18 and SR19 seasons) and stover yields (SR18, LR19, and SR19 seasons), with higher yields being recorded in treatments under Zai technology. This study demonstrates the importance of Zai technology in increasing crop yield by trapping water and enhancing its retention and infiltration into the soil for uptake by plants. This study concluded that positive impacts on important soil properties and crop yield could be realized when Zai technology is utilized alongside either sole inorganics or a combination of organic and inorganic amendments and this could be used as a strategy to improve crop production in eastern Kenya and other similar areas.

Crop yield and soil fertility as affected by papermill biosolids and liming by-products

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noura Ziadi ◽  
Bernard Gagnon ◽  
Judith Nyiraneza
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Strong Increase ◽  
Paper Mills ◽  
Dry Bean ◽  
Organic C ◽  
The Impact ◽  
By Products

Ziadi, N., Gagnon, B. and Nyiraneza, J. 2013. Crop yield and soil fertility as affected by papermill biosolids and liming by-products. Can. J. Soil Sci. 93: 319–328. Papermill biosolids (PB) in combination with alkaline industrial residuals could benefit agricultural soils while diverting these biosolids from landfill. A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the effect of three types of PB at rates of 0, 30, and 60 wet Mg ha−1, as well as five liming by-products at 3 wet Mg ha−1 along with 30 Mg PB ha−1 on crop yield, nutrient accumulation, and soil properties. De-inking paper biosolids (DB, C/N of 65) were applied to soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], and two combined PB (PB1, C/N of 31; and PB2, C/N of 14) were applied to dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), respectively. The liming by-products included lime mud (LM), wood ash (WA) from paper mills, commercial calcitic lime (CL), Mg dissolution by-product (MgD), and Mg smelting and electrolysis work (MgSE). Compared with the control, PB2 increased barley yield and total Mg and Na accumulation, and both PB increased plant N, P, and Ca accumulation in barley and dry bean. The impact of DB on soybean was limited. The addition of liming by-products to PB or DB did not affect crop attributes except the combination with MgSE, which severely reduced the growth of dry bean and, to a lesser extent, soybean. Soil NO3-N was immobilized following DB application, whereas there was a net release with both PB. Combining PB and liming by-products produced the greatest changes in soil properties at harvest. Generally, LM and CL raised pH and Mehlich-3 Ca, and MgSE caused a strong increase in Mehlich-3 Mg and Na and water-soluble Cl. When used with appropriate crops, biosolids from paper mills and alkaline residuals other than MgSE can efficiently enhance soil fertility by providing organic C and macronutrients for balanced crop fertilization.

scholarly journals Effect of Organic Amendment Addition on Soil Properties, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Grape Yield in Semi-Arid Vineyard Agroecosystems

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1477
Author(s):  
Antonio Marín-Martínez ◽  
Alberto Sanz-Cobeña ◽  
Mª Angeles Bustamante ◽  
Enrique Agulló ◽  
Concepción Paredes
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Organic N ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Grape Yield

In semi-arid vineyard agroecosystems, highly vulnerable in the context of climate change, the soil organic matter (OM) content is crucial to the improvement of soil fertility and grape productivity. The impact of OM, from compost and animal manure, on soil properties (e.g., pH, oxidisable organic C, organic N, NH4+-N and NO3−-N), grape yield and direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in vineyards was assessed. For this purpose, two wine grape varieties were chosen and managed differently: with a rain-fed non-trellising vineyard of Monastrell, a drip-irrigated trellising vineyard of Monastrell and a drip-irrigated trellising vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon. The studied fertiliser treatments were without organic amendments (C), sheep/goat manure (SGM) and distillery organic waste compost (DC). The SGM and DC treatments were applied at a rate of 4600 kg ha−1 (fresh weight, FW) and 5000 kg ha−1 FW, respectively. The use of organic amendments improved soil fertility and grape yield, especially in the drip-irrigated trellising vineyards. Increased CO2 emissions were coincident with higher grape yields and manure application (maximum CO2 emissions = 1518 mg C-CO2 m−2 d−1). In contrast, N2O emissions, mainly produced through nitrification, were decreased in the plots showing higher grape production (minimum N2O emissions = −0.090 mg N2O-N m−2 d−1). In all plots, the CH4 fluxes were negative during most of the experiment (−1.073−0.403 mg CH4-C m−2 d−1), indicating that these ecosystems can represent a significant sink for atmospheric CH4. According to our results, the optimal vineyard management, considering soil properties, yield and GHG mitigation together, was the use of compost in a drip-irrigated trellising vineyard with the grape variety Monastrell.

scholarly journals Spatial variability of soil fertility and its relation with cocoa yield

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Railton O. dos Santos ◽  
◽  
Laís B. Franco ◽  
Samuel A. Silva ◽  
George A. Sodré ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Fuzzy Logic ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Chemical Attributes ◽  
Cocoa Yield

ABSTRACT The knowledge on the spatial variability of soil properties and crops is important for decision-making on agricultural management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial variability of soil fertility and its relation with cocoa yield. The study was conducted over 14 months in an area cultivated with cocoa. A sampling grid was created to study soil chemical properties and cocoa yield (stratified in season, off-season and annual). The data were analyzed using descriptive and exploratory statistics, and geostatistics. The chemical attributes were classified using fuzzy logic to generate a soil fertility map, which was correlated with maps of crop yield. The soil of the area, except for the western region, showed possibilities ranging from medium to high for cocoa cultivation. Soil fertility showed positive spatial correlation with cocoa yield, and its effect was predominant only for the off-season and annual cocoa.

scholarly journals Improving Soil Properties and Yield of Corn (Zea Mays L.) by Application of Organic Amendment on Abandoned Tin-Mining Land in Bangka Island

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-151
Author(s):  
. Asmarhansyah
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Rice Straw ◽  
Zea Mays L ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Cattle Manure ◽  
Chicken Manure ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Mining Areas

An abandoned land after tin-mining activities are degraded lands with undulating and destructed land scape and low soil fertility status. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of organic amendments on the soil properties, growth, and grain yield of corn (Zea mays L.) on abandoned tin-mining areas in Bangka Island, Bangka Belitung Archipelago. The field experiment was conducted at the abandoned tin-mining areas in Cambai Village, Bangka Belitung Archipelago. Five treatments of organic amendments were applied and replicated three times and laid out in a Randomized Completely Block Design. All treatments were applied with the recommended rate fertilizer of 135 kg N ha-1, 72 kg P2O5 ha-1, and 120 kg K2O ha-1.  The treatments were T1= 20 Mg chicken manure ha-1;T2= 20 Mg cattle manure ha-1; T3= 20 Mg rice straw compost ha-1; T4 : 10 Mg of chicken manure ha-1 + 10 Mg rice straw compost ha-1; and T5= 10 Mg cattlemanure ha-1 + 10 Mg rice straw compost  ha-1. Application of organic amendments (chicken manure, cattle manure, and rice straw compost) on abandoned tin-mining land improved soil fertility due to the increasing of soil pH and nutrient availability, especially available-P and -K, and exchangeable bases. Application of chicken manure and cattle manure were significantly better than rice straw compost to improving soil fertility, nutrient uptake, growth and yield of maize. Application of cattle manure gave the highest yield of maize, namely 6.24 Mg ha-1.

scholarly journals Integrated Nutrient Management on Soil Properties and Nutrient Uptake by Red Onion

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 471
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Kwada Kwaghe ◽  
Abdullahi Muhammad Saddiq ◽  
Rejoice Ibrahim Solomon ◽  
Salihu Ardo Musa
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
P Uptake ◽  
Integrated Nutrient Management ◽  
Nutrient Inputs ◽  
Fertility Status ◽  
Phosphorus And Potassium ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Nitrogen Phosphorus

Field experiments were carried out during the dry seasons in (2012-2013 and 2013-2014) to study the impact of Integrated Nutrient Management on some soil properties and nutrients uptake by red onion (Allium cepa L.) in Moda, Michika, Adamawa state, Nigeria. Soil samples were randomly collected and analysed for pH, EC, organic carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus before and at the completion of the experiment. Total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents of the onion bulbs were determined. There was an improvement in the fertility status of the soil as a consequence of integrated nutrient management. Combined organic and inorganic fertilizer application influenced the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium by red onion. The highest nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium uptake by onions of 0.76, 43.82 and 2.42kgha-1 occurred when all treatments were combined. Uptake of N and K increased as treatment level increased. The P uptake was highest at lower treatment levels and could be linked to sufficiency of indigenous soil P for plant growth resulting in high P uptake with minimal addition of nutrient inputs. Integrated Nutrient Management could be adopted to improve soil fertility status and N, P and K uptake by red onions.

scholarly journals Impact of recreational transformation of soil physical properties on micromolluscs in an urban park

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-87
Author(s):  
V. S. Budakova ◽  
N. V. Yorkina ◽  
P. M. Telyuk ◽  
A. K. Umerova ◽  
O. M. Kunakh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Feature Space ◽  
Penetration Resistance ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Urban Park ◽  
Soil Penetration Resistance

The paper assesses the effect of transformation of soil physical properties on the abundance of micromolluscs in the conditions of an urban park. The studies were carried out in Novooleksandrivskiy Park (Melitopol, Ukraine). An experimental polygon was represented by 7 transects with 18 sampling points in each. The interval between the points in the transect, as well as the interval between transects, was 3 meters. The total area of the polygon was 1,134 m2. The tree species growing within the polygon were Quercus robur, Sophora japonica, and Acer campestre. Shrubs were represented by Ulmus laevis, Tilia cordata, Celtis occidentalis, and Morus nigra. The locations of the trees and shrubs were mapped. The crowns of tree and shrub plants formed a dense canopy and a shady light regime. The grass cover was practically absent. The soil mechanical resistance, soil aggregate-size distribution, electrical conductivity of soil, soil moisture and bulk density were measured. We recorded 618 individuals of Vallonia pulchella, 120 individuals of Cochlicopa lubrica, and 58 individuals of Acanthinula aculeata within the surveyed polygon. We extracted three principal components, which could explain 60.9% of the variation in the feature space of the soil properties. The principal component 1 explained 42.0% of the variation of the feature space and depended on the soil penetration resistance throughout the whole profile, aggregate composition, density, electric conductivity and moisture content of soil. This component reflected a tendency for soil penetration resistance and soil density to increase near recreational trails. The principal component 1 was used to indicate the gradient of recreational transformation of the soil. The principal component 2 was able to explain 10.6% of the variation in the feature space. It negatively correlated with the distance from the recreational trail, soil penetration resistance at the depth of 35 cm or more, soil electrical conductivity, and the proportion of aggregates greater than 3 mm in size. This component positively correlated with soil penetration resistance at 0–5 cm depth and the proportion of aggregates less than 0.5 mm in size. This component can be interpreted as a "halo" from the recreational trail, or a gradient of indirect soil transformations adjacent to the zone of intense recreational load. The principal component 3 was able to explain 8.3% of the variation in the feature space. It positively correlated with soil penetration resistance at the depth of 20–40 cm, the proportion of 0.5–7.0 mm aggregates, and soil moisture. It negatively correlated with the proportion of aggregates larger than 7 mm and smaller than 0.25 mm. This component indicated a variation in soil properties that was induced by causes independent of recreational exposure. The extracted gradients of soil properties significantly influenced the abundance of micromollusc populations. The abundance of all species decreased after increase in recreational load. Micromollusc species responded to direct recreational exposure as plateau (C. lubrica) and asymmetric unimodal responses (V. pulchella and A. aculeata).

The Impact of Spatial Soil Variability on Simulation of Regional Maize Yield

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 2137-2148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaishali Sharda ◽  
Cameron Handyside ◽  
Bernardo Chaves ◽  
Richard T. McNider ◽  
Gerrit Hoogenboom
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Soil Variability ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The study of climate variability and its impacts on crop production has become a continuous effort for the scientific community over the past two decades. However, the impact of spatial soil variability along with climatic factors on crop yield remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of soil and climatic variability on maize yield. We used Alabama as a case study because the agriculture is predominantly rainfed and there is a large variability in growing season precipitation due to the influence of climate variability signals such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The cropping system model CERES-Maize of the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) was used to simulate growth, development, and grain yield for maize for the top ten maize-producing counties in Alabama under rainfed conditions during dry and wet ENSO years. Maize yield simulations were compared for one prominent agricultural soil in each county, the top three prominent agricultural soils in each county, and spatially distributed SSURGO soils in each county. Simulated yields were then compared with maize yields reported by the National Agricultural Statistical Services (NASS). The simulation results showed that maize yield was impacted by both climate variability and spatial soil variability. Statistical relationships were established between crop yield, yield changes, and soil properties. This simulation study established the clear importance of soil variability in crop-climate impact studies. Keywords: Crop Modeling, DSSAT, Database, Soil properties, Spatial variability.

scholarly journals Establishing management zones using soil electrical conductivity and other soil properties by the fuzzy clustering technique

2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 567-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Paulo Molin ◽  
Cesar Nunes de Castro
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Management Zones ◽  
Physical Attributes ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Specific Management

The design of site-specific management zones that can successfully define uniform regions of soil fertility attributes that are of importance to crop growth is one of the most challenging steps in precision agriculture. One important method of so proceeding is based solely on crop yield stability using information from yield maps; however, it is possible to accomplish this using soil information. In this study the soil was sampled for electrical conductivity and eleven other soil properties, aiming to define uniform site-specific management zones in relation to these variables. Principal component analysis was used to group variables and fuzzy logic classification was used for clustering the transformed variables. The importance of electrical conductivity in this process was evaluated based on its correlation with soil fertility and physical attributes. The results confirmed the utility of electrical conductivity in the definition of management zones and the feasibility of the proposed method.

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