Effect of Applying Low Rates of Agricultural Lime and Chicken Manure on Selected Soil Properties on <i>Ferralsols</i> of Lake Victoria Agro-Ecological Zone, Uganda

Abstract

Ferralsols form a dominant type of soil on which most crops are grown in the Lake Victoria agro-ecological zone. Soil acidity has been recognized among the most important agricultural problems in such soils, which adversely affect crop production and productivity. A study was conducted with the objective of determining the effect of applying low rates of lime and chicken manure on selected soil chemical properties. Using a Split Plot Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design, agricultural lime (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 & 2.0 t•ha −1 ) as the main plot and chicken manure (0.0, 1.0, 2.0 & 3.0 t•ha −1 ) as sub-plot were applied, replicated three times. The test crop was common bean var. NABE 15. The experiment was conducted for three rainy seasons, two seasons on-station and one season on-farm on Ferralsol soil in the Lake Victoria crescent of central Uganda. The results showed that applying low rates of lime with chicken manure significantly (p < 0.05) increased pH, CEC, P, N, K, BS and Mn changes at Mukono but not Masaka. A strong positive significant (r 2 = 0.987) relationship with pH change was obtained when 0.5 t•ha −1 lime was applied with the four chicken manure rates in Mukono. From the study, we recommend the application of small quantities of lime at 1.0 t•ha −1 with either 2.0 or 3.0 t•ha −1 chicken manure.