Effects of four organic amendments on some soil physical and chemical properties were investigated in Awka, Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria. Over the years, use of synthetic materials in crop production has been a common practice globally. The attendant detrimental effects of the chemicals used in the formulation of these synthetics on animal and human health as well as the environment has made researchers to look out for a better agronomic practice that would not only improve productivity but at the same time sustain a healthy environment. Sole maize, sole cowpea and maize-cowpea intercrop (study area conventional practices) were planted using four soil organic amendments viz: cassava peel (CP), poultry manure (PM), pig waste (PW) and rice husk (RH) at the rate of 20 t ha–1 with the fifth as the control. The treatments were laid out in a 3 × 5 factorial in randomized complete block design and replicated four times. Data on the treatments’ effects on the selected soil physical properties (bulk density, total porosity, soil moisture) and chemical properties (soil pH, available phosphorus, cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic carbon, exchangeable bases and exchangeable acidity) were subjected to factorial analysis of variance using GenStat 2006 Edition. Results indicated that for sole maize, the amendments had significant effect onexchangeable Al3+and Na+; organic carbon, soil pH, available phosphorus and CEC but had no significant effect on Ca2+, H+, Mg2+ and K+ as compared to the control. For sole cowpea, compared to the plots with no amendment (control), all the chemical parameters analyzed differed significantly except organic carbon. Whereas, for maize-cowpea intercrop the treatments had no significant effect on Al3+, Na+, K+ and available phosphorus but differed significantly in exchangeable H+, Ca2+, Mg2+, organic carbon, soil pH, and CEC. There was a decrease in bulk density following the amendment. For sole maize, sole cowpea and maizecowpea intercrop; bulk density, total porosity and moisture content of the amended plots were significantly (p< 0.05) influenced. Organic amendments also significantly improved the growth and yield of maize and cowpea in both the sole and intercrop systems. Generally, poultry manure resulted in higher plant height,number of leaves and leaf area for maize; vine length, number of branches for cowpea as compared with other amendments. Hence, poultry manure was the most effective organic amendment in improving the soil physical and chemical properties as well as the growth and yield of cowpea and maize. Key words: Growth, maize-cowpea intercrop, soil physical and chemical properties, soil organic amendments
Soils on coastal plain sands of southeastern Nigeria have hitherto been referred to as fragile sandy and acidic soils of low base saturation, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and fertility, as evidenced by the extensive land degradation evident in the region. This underscores the need for the characterization of the soils for sustainable use. Three profile pits were therefore dug on the upper, middle and bottom slopes of three towns in the rainforest belt underlain by the coastal plain sands. The results showed that the topsoil of the soils was generally sandy, with relatively more clayey subsoil. The pH ranged from extremely acidic (< 4.4) to slightly acidic (6.1- 6.5). They had low organic matter, low total nitrogen, low effective CEC, low Al saturation and moderate base saturation. The soils of the upper and the middle slopes were classified as Arenic Kandiudult by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Soil Taxonomy or as Chromic Acrisols by the World Reference Base (WRB) for Soil Resources classification system, while that of the bottom slope was classified as a TypicDystrudept (USDA Soil Taxonomy) / Dystric Cambisol (WRB classification system). The upper slope had a USDA land capability class of IIes and a United States Bureau for Reclamation (USBR) land capability class of 2v/C. The middle slope and the bottom slope both had USDA and USBR capability class of IVs and 3v/C, respectively. Though moderately to marginally irrigable, the soils can still produce increased and sustainable agricultural yield if the appropriate land use and husbandry practices are adopted. Key words: Coastal plain sands, land use planning, soil characterization, toposequence, tropical rainforest
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