Purpose The need for increasing production of Moringa oleifera in Nigeria can be achieved through adequate fertilization. This study investigated the effects of sources and rates of NPK (15:15:15) and compost on soil properties and productivity of Moringa at National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods NPK was applied at 30, 60, and 90 kg N/ ha, cow dung (CD), poultry manure (PM) and organomineral (OM) were applied at 10, 20 and 30 tons/ha. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Organic fertilizers were incorporated into the soil 2 weeks before sowing; NPK was split applied at 2 and 5 weeks after sowing. Seeds were sown at 75 cm 9 75 cm spacing. Data were taken on plant height (cm), stem girth (cm), number of leaves, leaf biomass, stems weight and post-planting soil properties.Results Growth values for NPK and compost treatments were higher than the control. PM applied at 30 tons ha -1 resulted in highest growth values: plant height (65.91 cm), stem girth (1.51 cm) and number of leaves (14.20). PM applied at 30 tons ha -1 gave higher stem weight (2249.9 g) and leaf biomass (3610.5 g). Post-planting soil analysis indicated that nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, manganese, iron and zinc contents were higher in plots with organic and inorganic fertilizers except for potassium and magnesium.Conclusion PM proved more superior to CD manure and others because it produced better growth attributes such as shoot height, stem girth and number of leaves and leaf biomass than its counterparts produced.
Appropriate waste management options are major concerns in the developing world. Current methods include incineration in the open and accumulation of wastes in designated places where they constitute nuisance to the environment. Apart from air pollution from the incinerators, leachates from decomposed wastes are either washed off where they serve as source of pollutants to the adjourning streams and rivers or contaminate groundwater through deep percolation. We present viable options for managing agricultural wastes in this chapter. The options presented are so simple and sustainable such that it can be managed by individuals. Hence, they are independent of the government bureaucratic bottlenecks that have been the bane of the previous government interventions. If embraced, it will also serve as sources of income for the concerned household, hence enhance their livelihood.
Cadmium (Cd) sorption and desorption characteristics by Alfisols from different land uses were examined, and the relationships between soil and sorption/desorption characteristics were investigated. Adsorption studies were done using Cd concentrations (0-100 mg Cd kg 21 ) in 0.01 M CaCl 2 . The Cd sorbed by the soils was then subjected to two desorption runs. The soils' adsorption conformed to Freundlich and Langmuir equations. The amount of Cd sorbed by the soils varied. Two desorption runs detached more than 95% of sorbed Cd, but the first accounted for more than 80% of the total. Desorption of Cd in degraded soils was more than in soils from other land uses. The amount of Cd desorbed correlated with amount applied (r 5 0.90**), solution concentration (r 5 0.83**), and amount sorbed (r 5 0.70**). A positive relationship exists between the adsorption maxima of the soils and soil organic matter (r 5 0.13, p 5 0.87). The relationship between amount of Cd desorbed and sorbed is quadratic for all the soil.
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