Physical-hydraulic properties of tropical sandy-loam soil in response to rice-husk dust and cattle dung amendments and surface mulching

A field experiment was carried out during the early cropping season of 2015 at the Teaching and Research Farm, Osun State University, Ejigbo campus, Nigeria. The study evaluated the effects of organic manures on fruit yield and antioxidant properties of green and orange morphotypes of Nigerian pumpkin. Pumpkin, locally called Elegede in the South-West Nigeria is used as an indigenous vegetable. Cattle and poultry manures were applied as treatments at the rates of 10 t ha–1 each, there was a control (plants that were treated with neither cattle nor poultry manure). The experiment was a factorial experiment, set out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. At maturity, the fruits were harvested, yield data were taken and selected fruits across treatments were analyzed for antioxidant activities, phenol, flavonoids, anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin. Results showed that the orange morphotype out-yielded the green morphotype. Also, the yields of the plants that received cattle and poultry manures did not differ statistically. The antioxidant activities and parameters studied across the morphotypes were highest in the control and cattle manure but lowest in plants treated with poultry manure. For optimal yield and bioaccumulation of antioxidants in pumpkin fruits, cattle manure is preferred in the study area.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Influence of organic nutrient sources on fruit yield and antioxidant properties of Nigerian pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) morphotypes

Oloyede¹,

Oyelade²

2022

“…FAO (2005) reported that growth of the plant under shade improved the soil moisture content, increased fertility, protection from sun, wind, rain, and reduced weed infestation. Decomposition organic mulch, by providing organic matter, improves the stability and permeability of the soil (Nwokocha et al, 2009;Ezenne et al, 2019). This is supported by Sultan (2000) that individuals of many species respond to shading with accelerated stem and leaf elongation, suppressed branching, an increase in specific leaf area (SLA), and a decrease in allocation to root mass.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Growth response of Garcinia kola (Heckel) plant to natural shade in a rainforest environment of Nigeria

Akintan¹,

Akintan²,

Sobola³

et al. 2022

Sustainable production of Garcinia kola can be achieved through the establishment of its plantation with the right silvicultural requirements. The growth response of Garcinia kola (Heckel) plant under a Tectona grandis L. plantation and open field was studied for three years. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) involving three replicates per treatment. The treatments were shade from Tectona grandis (Teak) and control (open field without shade where fresh clear-felling/harvesting of Tectona grandis (Teak) has just been carried out). Measurement of treatment effects on growth of Garcinia kola commenced six months after planting and was repeated at six-month intervals, while soil temperature was measured at two week intervals. Significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher differences were observed after the first year in height, collar diameter, and crown width on the shaded plant. The soil temperature for the shaded field was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower than the control field. Hence it is recommended that sustainable production of Garcinia kola through plantation establishment should be done under the shade of older trees.

“…In Table 3 (NfS) i o and A were negatively (p < 0.05) related to SOC indicating that the latter is not critical to rainwater acceptance and transmission in the NfS soil. This observation suggests that increases in SOC adversely influence the surface and intrinsic structure of the coarse-textured soil under investigation (Ezenne et al, 2019). In Table 4 (SfS), S was significantly (p < 0.05) positively related to TS and negatively related to silt and clay which implies that the infiltration process is governed by the coarse fragments on this slope.…”

Section: Interaction Between Infiltration Characteristics and Soil Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 90%

Effect of slope aspect and position on soil infiltrability in an ultisol in Akwa Ibom State, southern Nigeria

Ogban¹,

Okon²

2020

Soil infiltrability is an important hydrological process that enhances soil water storage and the minimization of runoff. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of slope aspect (north, NfS and south, SfS) and positions [(crest (CR), upper (US), middle (MS) and lower (LS)] on soil infiltrability, that is, initial infiltration rate (io), steady-state infiltration rate (ic) and cumulative infiltration (I), and sorptivity (S) and transmissivity (A) on the University of Uyo Teaching and Research Farm (T&SF) located on an Ultisol in Akwa Ibom State, southern Nigeria. Results show that the initial infiltration rate (io) was 43.20 cm h−1 on SfS and significantly (p < 0.05) higher than 36.60 cm h−1 on NfS. The final infiltration rate (ic) was not significantly different between NfS (9.60 cm h−1) and SfS (7.20 cm h−1). The Cumulative depth of water (I) infiltrated was similar between NfS (28.18 cm) and SfS (21.46 cm). Soil water sorptivity (S) was moderately high on the two slopes but significantly (p < 0.05) lower in NfS (0.49 cm min−1/2) than in SfS (0.70 cm min−1/2) soil. Soil water transmissivity (A) was similar in NfS (0.19 cm h−1) and SfS (0.16 cm h−1) soil. The results indicate that the aspects were similar in io, ic, I, S and A. However, since soil texture is similar among the aspects, similar soil management practices, example tillage and mulching, could be adopted to enhance water infiltration to improve ic for increases in soil water conservation and crop production on the T&SF. Key words: slope aspect and position, soil infiltrability, sorptivity and transmissivity, soil water management