Residual Effect of Lime Rate after Five Years and P Fertilizer Rates on Bread Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Yield on Acidic Soil in Banja District, North Western Ethiopia (Published)
Soil acidity problem is one of the bottlenecks to improve crop production in high rainfall regions of Ethiopia in general and in Banja district particular. This study aimed to determine the residual effect of lime and P fertilizer on the acid properties of soils and to develop models whereby the change in acidity indicators of soils can be predicted as a result of lime application. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Five levels of lime (0, 1.15, 2.3, 3.45, 4.6 t ha-1) and four levels of Phosphorous (0, 10, 20, and 30 kg ha-1) were combined in a complete factorial arrangement. The study was conducted for three consecutive years from 2015 to 2017 main cropping seasons at Banja district. Mean grain yield and yield components as affected by different levels of lime and phosphorus fertilizer. Analysis of variance showed that all limed treatments were higher mean values of grain yield and yield components relative to control plot (no lime and P) in all over combined cropping years. Moreover, over year combined mean the highest grain yields (1115.9 kg ha-1), biomass yields (3591.2 kg ha-1), number of seeds per plant (21.54), plant height (64.50 cm) and spike length (5.24 cm) were recorded under 4.6 t ha-1 of lime application of plot. The lowest grain and biomass yields were recorded in control plots. However, over year mean 4.6 t ha-1 of lime application plot the grain yield and biomass yield of wheat were increased by (151.1%) and (123.3%) related to the control plot, respectively. Hence, lime application at the rate of 3.45 t ha-1 (150% of the lime requirement of the soils based on its exchangeable acidity) coupled with 20 kg ha-1 P fertilizer could serve as a reference to boosting wheat production in the study area and similar areas with possible re-liming of the soils in every five years.
Keywords: Acidic soil, North Western Ethiopia, P Fertilizer, Phosphorus, lime
Influence of Poultry Manure on Phosphate Fertilizer Need of Soybean (Glycine Max Merill (L) In Some Selected Alfisols in Benue State. (Published)
Laboratory and pot experiments were carried out at the University of Agriculture Makurdi to determine the influence of poultry manure on the Phosphate fertilizer need of soybean in some selected Alfisols in Benue State. Surface soil samples (0 – 20 cm) were collected from three locations in Benue State (Daudu, TseKough and Ayange) and Poultry manure sourced from the University of Agriculture Makurdi Livestock Teaching and Research Farm. The physical and chemical properties of the soils and poultry manure were determined using standard procedures. Four (4) Kg of soils were weighed into perforated plastic pots of 5 litres capacity,Six levels of solution P concentrations (0, 0.150, 0.175, 0.20, 0.225, 0.250 mg l-1), 2 levels of poultry manure (0 and 6 t ha-1) and three soils factorially combined constituted the experimental treatments and were arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Soybean seeds of the variety TGX 1935-3F were planted and grown to maturity. Optimal P solution concentrations for soybeans production on these soils were 0.2 mg l-1for Daudu, 0.225 mg l-1for TseKough while Ayange required 0.175 mg l-1. The amounts of phosphate fertilizer required to achieve this solution concentrations (SPR) were 204 Kg P ha-1 for Daudu, 223.32 kg P ha-1 and 136.55 Kg P ha-1 for TseKough and Ayange respectively. However with the addition of poultry manure the SPR for Daudu was 165.89 kg P ha-1, 185.04 kg P ha-1 for TseKough and 111.03 kg P ha-1 for Ayange representing 18.75 %, 17.14 % and 18.69 % reduction in SPR respectively.
Keywords: Alfisols, Availability, Phosphorus, Poultry manure, Standard phosphate concentration, Standard phosphate requirement
Influence of Poultry Manure on Phosphate Fertilizer Need of Soybean (Glycine Max Merill (L) In Some Selected Alfisols in Benue State (Published)
Laboratory and pot experiments were carried out at the University of Agriculture Makurdi to determine the influence of poultry manure on the Phosphate fertilizer need of soybean in some selected Alfisols in Benue State. Surface soil samples (0 – 20 cm) were collected from three locations in Benue State (Daudu, TseKough and Ayange) and Poultry manure sourced from the University of Agriculture Makurdi Livestock Teaching and Research Farm. The physical and chemical properties of the soils and poultry manure were determined using standard procedures. Four (4) Kg of soils were weighed into perforated plastic pots of 5 litres capacity,Six levels of solution P concentrations (0, 0.150, 0.175, 0.20, 0.225, 0.250 mg l-1), 2 levels of poultry manure (0 and 6 t ha-1) and three soils factorially combined constituted the experimental treatments and were arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Soybean seeds of the variety TGX 1935-3F were planted and grown to maturity. Optimal P solution concentrations for soybeans production on these soils were 0.2 mg l-1for Daudu, 0.225 mg l-1for TseKough while Ayange required 0.175 mg l-1. The amounts of phosphate fertilizer required to achieve this solution concentrations (SPR) were 204 Kg P ha-1 for Daudu, 223.32 kg P ha-1 and 136.55 Kg P ha-1 for TseKough and Ayange respectively. However with the addition of poultry manure the SPR for Daudu was 165.89 kg P ha-1, 185.04 kg P ha-1 for TseKough and 111.03 kg P ha-1 for Ayange representing 18.75 %, 17.14 % and 18.69 % reduction in SPR respectively.
Keywords: Alfisols, Availability, Phosphorus, Poultry manure, Standard phosphate concentration, Standard phosphate requirement
Phosphorus Adsorption Isotherms of Some Low Activity Clay Soils As Influenced By Soil Properties and Their Effect on Fertilizer P Recommendations and Yield of Soybean (Glycine Max (L.) Merr.) In Benue State, Nigeria (Published)
The relationship between labile P sorbed to the soil surface and solution P can be described by a quantity-intensity relationship which shows P sorption or desorption as a function of P in the equilibrium solution. Twelve soils in Benue state representing Alfisols, Ultisols and Inceptisols were therefore used to examine the influence of soil properties on the shape and placement of their adsorption curves and yield of soybean. Sorption characteristics were determined in 0.01 M CaCl2 solutions of various P concentrations. For each soil, the amounts of P that gave 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.100, 0.125, 0.150, 0.175, 0.200, 0.225, 0.250 mg kg-1 solution concentrations were estimated from adsorption curves. In the greenhouse, 4 kg of soil from each location was placed in plastic pots. Amount of P estimated from sorption study was added as KH2PO4. The treatments were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and soybean seed variety (TGx 1448-2E) was planted and growth and development observed to maturity. Optimum solution P concentration (SPC) was determined for each soil in relation to yield. At harvest, SPC that gave highest grain yield was evaluated for each soil and the quantity of P required (SPR) to achieve this concentration was calculated. Consequently, Odoba would require highest P fertilizer application (604.84 Kg P ha-1), (Tor-Donga 112.31, Abeda-Mbadyul 105.93) would require medium fertilization, (Utonkon 72.75, Katsina-Ala and Ofugo 67.64, Akoodo-Mbakor and Nor 61.26, Ogyoma 39.56, Otobi 33.18 and Abaji-Kpav 22.97 Kg P ha-1)would require low fertilization while Vanam (2.55 Kg P ha-1) would require the least.
Keywords: Adsorption, Fertilizer, Growth, Isotherms, Phosphorus, soils, soybean