Fertility Status of Selected Agricultural Soils Along Major Roads in Nasarawa Eggon and Doma Areas of Nasarawa State, North Central, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Onwuka ◽  
J. M. Nwaedozie ◽  
E. H. Kwon – Dung ◽  
P. T. Terna
Keyword(s):  
Plant Uptake ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
High Rate

Soil nutrient status determines its crop productivity and provide basis for appropriate soil management. The soil samples which spread across the agricultural farms along major roads in Nasarawa Eggon and Doma areas of Nasarawa State, Nigeria; were analyzed for both physical and chemical properties. Most of the studied Nasarawa Eggon and Doma soils were extremely acidic. Textural class showed high sand content (>80) of the investigated soils, indicating possible high rate of water infiltration in these soils which will lead to their low water holding capacity. The organic carbon (OC) contents in both locations, were rated high as it varied from 1.50 to 1.85 %, whereas total nitrogen (TN) levels ranged from 0.07 to 0.21 % in the studied soils. The levels of available P, Ca, K and Mg were inadequate for satisfactory plant growth, considering their respective critical level established for Nigerian soils. Mineral analysis showed the presence of essential elements such as S, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Co, Mo and Zn. Beneficial/functional elements such as Ti, V, Rb and Sr, were found in significant quantities in the investigated soils of both studied areas. Thus, Potential K and Ca deficiency could be greatly compensated by Rb and Sr uptake. The quantities of non – beneficial elements such as Sn, Sb, Te, Cs, Ba and Sc were significant in soils from Nasarawa Eggon but were insignificant in Doma soils. Thus, this study revealed that nutrient content of the soil differs from the nutrient availability for plant uptake and the fertility of investigated soils in both locations depended on the soil pH and textural class. Also, the conditions of the soils at both studied locations, are unfavourable for plant uptake of certain important nutrients and could lead to low crop yields if there is no effective nutrient and soil management.

scholarly journals Effect of Mosses on physical and chemical properties of soil in temperate forests of Garhwal Himalayas

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Anshu Siwach ◽  
Siddhartha Kaushal ◽  
Ratul Baishya
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Physical And Chemical Properties ◽  
Garhwal Himalayas ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
And Chemical Properties

Abstract Mosses are one of the most important and dominant plant communities, especially in the temperate biome, and play a significant role in ecosystem function and dynamics. They influence the water, energy and element cycle due to their unique ecology and physiology. The present study was undertaken in three different temperate forest sites in the Garhwal Himalayas, viz., Triyuginarayan (Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS)), Chakrata, and Kanasar forest range. The study was focused on understanding the influence of mosses on soil physical properties and nutrient availability. Different physico-chemical properties were analysed under two different substrata, that is, with and without moss cover in two different seasons, viz., monsoon and winter. We observed mosses to influence and alter the physical properties and nutrient status of soil in both seasons. All soil physical and chemical properties, except magnesium, showed significant difference within the substrates, among all the sites and across the two seasons. Besides the soil characteristics underneath the moss vegetation, the study also highlights the diversity of mosses found in the area. Mosses appear to create high nutrient microsites via a high rate of organic matter accumulation and retain nutrients for longer periods thus, maintaining ecosystem stability.

scholarly journals Organic wastes from bioenergy and ecological sanitation as a soil fertility improver: a field experiment in a tropical Andosol

SOIL ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariane Krause ◽  
Thomas Nehls ◽  
Eckhard George ◽  
Martin Kaupenjohann
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Biogas Slurry ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
P Deficiency

Abstract. Andosols require the regular application of phosphorus (P) to sustain crop productivity. On an Andosol in NW Tanzania, we studied the short-term effects of amending standard compost, biogas slurry and CaSa compost (containing biochar and sanitized human excreta) on (i) the soil's physico-chemical properties, on (ii) biomass growth and crop productivity, and on (iii) the plants' nutrient status. The practice-oriented experiment design included the intercropping of seven locally grown crop species planted on 9 m2 plots with five repetitions arranged as a Latin rectangle. Differences in plant growth (biomass production and crop yield, e.g., of Zea mays) and crop nutrition (total C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, etc.) were related to pH, CEC (cation exchange capacity), total C and the availability of nutrients (N, P, K, etc.) and water (water retention characteristics, bulk density, etc.) in the soil. None of the amendments had any significant effect on soil water availability, so the observed variations in crop yield and plant nutrition are attributed to nutrient availability. Applying CaSa compost increased the soil pH from 5.3 to 5.9 and the level of available P from 0.5 to 4.4 mg per kg. Compared to the control, adding biogas slurry, standard compost and CaSa compost increased the aboveground biomass of Zea mays by, respectively, 140, 154 and 211 %. The grain yields of maize on soil treated with biogas slurry, standard compost and CaSa compost were, respectively, 2.63, 3.18 and 4.40 t ha−1, compared to only 1.10 t ha−1 on unamended plots. All treatments enhanced crop productivity and increased the uptake of nutrients into the maize grains. The CaSa compost was most effective in mitigating P deficiency and soil acidification. We conclude that all treatments are viable as a substitute for synthetic fertilizers. Nevertheless, further steps are required to integrate the tested soil amendments into farm-scale nutrient management and to balance the additions and removals of nutrients, so that the cycle can be closed.

scholarly journals Reclaiming Tropical Saline-Sodic Soils with Gypsum and Cow Manure

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Gonçalo Filho ◽  
Nildo da Silva Dias ◽  
Stella Ribeiro Prazeres Suddarth ◽  
Jorge F. S. Ferreira ◽  
Ray G. Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arid Regions ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Soil Reclamation ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
Cow Manure ◽  
Sodic Soils ◽  
Semi Arid

Saline-sodic soils are a major impediment for agricultural production in semi-arid regions. Salinity and sodicity drastically reduce agricultural crop yields, damage farm equipment, jeopardize food security, and render soils unusable for agriculture. However, many farmers in developing semi-arid regions cannot afford expensive amendments to reclaim saline-sodic soils. Furthermore, existing research does not cover soil types (e.g., Luvisols and Lixisols) that are found in many semi-arid regions of South America. Therefore, we used percolation columns to evaluate the effect of inexpensive chemical and organic amendments (gypsum and cow manure) on the reclamation of saline-sodic soils in the northeast of Brazil. Soil samples from two layers (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm in depth) were collected and placed in percolation columns. Then, we applied gypsum into the columns, with and without cow manure. The experiment followed a complete randomized design with three replications. The chemical amendment treatments included a control and four combinations of gypsum and cow manure. Percolation columns were subjected to a constant flood layer of 55 mm. We evaluated the effectiveness of sodic soil reclamation treatments via changes in soil hydraulic conductivity, chemical composition (cations and anions), electrical conductivity of the saturated soil-paste extract, pH, and the exchangeable sodium percentage. These results suggest that the combined use of gypsum and cow manure is better to reduce soil sodicity, improve soil chemical properties, and increase water infiltration than gypsum alone. Cow manure at 40 ton ha−1 was better than at 80 ton ha−1 to reduce the sodium adsorption ratio.

scholarly journals Influence of wood-derived biochar on the physico-mechanical and chemical characteristics of agricultural soils

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed S.F. Ahmed ◽  
Vijaya Raghavan
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Clay Loam ◽  
Clay Loam Soil ◽  
Loam Soil ◽  
Specific Influence ◽  
And Chemical Properties

AbstractAmendment of soil with biochar has been shown to enhance fertility and increase crop productivity, but the specific influence of biochar on soil workability remains unclear. Select physico-mechanical and chemical properties of clay loam and sandy loam soils were measured after amendment with wood-derived biochar of two particle size ranges (0.5-425 and 425-850 µm) at five dosages ranging from 0.5 to 10% dry weight. Whereas the clay loam soil workability decreased when the finer wood-derived biochar was applied at rates of 6 or 10%, soil fertility was not enhanced. The sandy loam soil, due to Proctor compaction, significantly decreased in bulk density with 6 and 10% wood-derived biochar amendments indicating higher soil resistance to compaction.

scholarly journals Disentangling the Association of Corn Root Mycobiome With Plant Productivity and the Importance of Soil Physicochemical Balance in Shaping Their Relationship

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saveetha Kandasamy ◽  
Nimalka Weerasuriya ◽  
Geetha Subramanian ◽  
R. Greg Thorn ◽  
Greg Patterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infrared Imaging ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Plant Productivity ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Fungal Abundance ◽  
Α Diversity ◽  
Physical And Chemical

Soil bacteria and fungi are integral parts of healthy ecosystem functioning in production agriculture. The effects of fungal abundance and diversity on crop productivity is poorly understood. We sampled 10 corn farms at the V10 growth stage across southwestern Ontario, Canada, using aerial infrared imaging to identify zones of low and high productive corn plants. Roots and soils were sampled from low and high yield zones and soil physical and chemical properties were measured in conjunction with assessment of the root mycobiome communities using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 4 rRNA amplicons. Higher crop yields were associated with sites having greater fungal phylogenetic diversity and Fisher's α diversity. Indicator species associated with high and low yield sites within a farm could be identified but there were no shared fungal indicators of productivity differences across farms. Communities largely varied across locations despite crop genetics, demonstrating a major influence of soil texture and chemistry in shaping the mycobiome in a site-specific manner. Across all 4 primers, roots from high-yielding sites shared 35 major OTUs including Penicillium spp., Trichoderma, Chalara fungorum, and Gibellulopsis. Low-yielding sites shared 31 OTUs including Fusarium spp., Pythium, Setophoma terrestris, and Neonectria. Soil physical and chemical parameters that contributed to broad scale differences in yield and mycobiome diversity included: %clay, %sand, %phosphorus saturation, cation exchange capacity, aluminum, pH, iron, potassium, %moisture, organic matter, and chlorine. The results show the importance of physicochemical balance in shaping the relationship between root mycobiome and plant productivity.

scholarly journals Organic wastes from bioenergy and ecological sanitation as soil fertility improver: a field experiment in a tropical Andosol

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1221-1261 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Krause ◽  
T. Nehls ◽  
E. George ◽  
M. Kaupenjohann
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Soil Amendments ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Biogas Slurry ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
P Deficiency ◽  
Ecological Sanitation

Abstract. Andosols require the regular application of phosphorus (P) to sustain crop productivity. In a practice oriented field experiment at an Andosol site in NW Tanzania, the effects of various soil amendments (standard compost, urine, biogas slurry and CaSa-compost [biochar and sanitized human excreta]) on (i) the productivity of locally grown crop species, on (ii) the plants' nutrient status and on (iii) the soil's physico-chemical properties were studied. None of the amendments had any significant effect on soil moisture, so the observed variation in crop yield and plant nutrition reflected differences in nutrient availability. The application of CaSa-compost increased the level of available P in the top-soil from 0.5 to 4.4 mg kg−1 and the soil pH from 5.3 to 5.9. Treatment with biogas slurry, standard compost and CaSa-compost increased the above-ground biomass of Zea mays by, respectively, 140, 154 and 211 %. The grain yields of maize on soil treated with biogas slurry, standard compost and CaSa-compost were, respectively, 2.63, 3.18 and 4.40 t ha−1, compared to only 1.10 t ha−1 on unamended plots. All treatments enhanced crop productivity and increased the uptake of nutrients into the maize grains. The CaSa-compost was especially effective in mitigating P deficiency and soil acidification. We conclude that all treatments are viable as substitute for synthetic fertilizers. However, further steps are required to integrate the tested soil amendments into farm-scale nutrient management and to balance the additions and removals of nutrients, so that the loop can be closed.

scholarly journals Impacts de l’agriculture de conservation sur les propriétés et la productivité des vertisols du Maroc Central

Afrika Focus ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachid Moussadek
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yields ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Nutrient Pool

In Morocco, intensive agriculture with deep tillage and soil inversion caused rapid soil structure deterioration with loss of soil organic matter content. This practice leads to a decrease in soil fertility, a degradation of the soil physical properties and a reduction of crop yields in different soil types, such as Vertisols. In fact, Vertisols (or Tirs as vernacular name) are among the most productive soils in Morocco, but they are also susceptible to compaction and reduced water infiltration due to intensive tillage. No-tillage (NT) is commonly promoted as a management practice capable of offsetting soil carbon depletion, improving aggregation, enriching the soil nutrient pool and enhancing crop productivity in many parts of the world. However, the influence of the NT system as compared to the conventional tillage (CT) system on physical, chemical and hydrodynamic soil properties was not yet well studied in the semi-arid environment of Morocco where rainfall ranges from 350 to 600 mm. This research focused mainly on those parameters with important agronomical or environmental impact: bulk density (Db), soil strength assessed using cone index (CI), hydraulic conductivity (K), sorptivity (S), soil water potential (SWP), soil organic carbon content or stock (SOCc or SOCs), runoff, soil loss, soil CO2 emission and crop yield. 

scholarly journals Effects of Biochar and Farm Yard Manure on Soil Properties and Crop Growth in an Agroforestry System in the Himalaya

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepak K. Gautam ◽  
Roshan M. Bajracharya ◽  
Bishal K. Sitaula
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Agroforestry System ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Farm Yard Manure ◽  
Coffee Agroforestry ◽  
Positive Effects

Many parts of South Asia are facing agricultural land degradation and reduced productivity while the population continues to grow and demand for food is ever-increasing. This paper presents the results of research specifically focused on application of biochar and Farm Yard Manure (FYM) at 5t/ha and 20t/ha, respectively as an amendment on degraded soil in a coffee agroforestry system of the mid-hills in the Nepal Himalaya. The study showed that there were significant (P<0.05) positive effects on soil chemical properties, crop growth (height) and crop productivity. In particular, the soil pH and SOM increased significantly, while other soil properties were not significantly improved. Also, plant growth increased dramatically with application of biochar, however, crop yields showed only slight increases. It is suggested that biochar applied at low rates along with FYM generally has immediate positive effects on the vegetative growth of plants, however, soil properties and overall crop yields may take a longer time to show improvement.

Acid rain and soil

1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 991-997 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. VanLoon
Keyword(s):  
Acid Rain ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Low Ph ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Acid Solutions ◽  
Properties Of Soil ◽  
Soil Exchange Complex

A summary of important chemical properties of soil is given and the way in which acid rain may affect these properties is discussed. Acid rain may suppress microbiological decomposition and nitrification processes, thus influencing the nutrient status of soils. It has also been found that soil organic matter is less soluble in more acid solutions. Changed nutrient availability patterns are predicted in a low pH environment and enhanced leaching of essential elements from the soil exchange complex has been observed. Increased solubility of potentially toxic elements such as aluminium may also occur from soils which have been exposed to acidified rainfall.

EFFECT OF LONG-TERM USE OF TILLAGE, RESIDUES AND N LEVELS IN SORGHUM (SORGHUM VULGARE (L)) – CASTOR (RICINUS COMMUNIS) CROPPING SYSTEM UNDER RAINFED CONDITIONS – CROP RESPONSES AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE – PART I

2013 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. KUSUMA GRACE ◽  
K. L. SHARMA ◽  
D. SUMACHANDRIKA ◽  
K. SRINIVAS ◽  
U. K. MANDAL ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Ricinus Communis ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
Long Term Effect

SUMMARYThis experiment was conducted to study the long-term effect of soil management treatments on crop yields, sustainability yield indices (SYI) and soil fertility in rainfed semi-arid tropical Alfisol at Hayathnagar Research Farm, Hyderabad, India, during the period 1995 to 2009. The experiment was conducted in a split–split plot design with conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) as main factors, surface application of sorghum stover @ 2 t ha−1 (SS), fresh Gliricidia loppings @ 2 t ha−1 (GL) and ‘no’ residue (NR) as sub-factors and levels of N viz. 0 (N0), 30 (N30), 60 (N60) and 90 (N90) kg N ha−1 as sub–sub factors in a castor–sorghum two-year rotation. On an average, CT maintained 30.4 and 57.0% higher grain yields of sorghum and castor, respectively, over MT. Between two residues, GL performed well in both the crops. The highest yields of sorghum (1425 kg ha−1) and castor (876 kg ha−1) were recorded at 90 kg N ha−1. CT maintained higher SYI of 0.44 compared to MT (0.38) and higher agronomic efficiency (AE) of 13.5 and 6.76 kg grain kg−1 N for sorghum and castor crop, respectively. Use of crop residue as mulch had an advantage in increasing the yield of both the crops with increase in rainfall under CT even without N application (control), probably by making the soil more receptive to water infiltration, better moisture storage and by reducing the evaporative losses. Using response functions, the optimum fertilizer N requirement was also computed for a given set of tillage and residue combinations. The revised optimum fertilizer N doses for sorghum and castor varied from 45 to 56 kg ha−1 and 46 to 74 kg ha−1, respectively, under different tillage and residue combinations and could be recommended depending upon the soil management practices.

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