Direct and Residual Effects of Animal Manures on Soil Properties and Yield Components of Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) in an Ultisol of Southeast Nigeria
Journal Title: Asian Research Journal of Agriculture - Year 2017, Vol 3, Issue 3
Abstract
One of the ways of increasing soil nutrients and crop yield is by applying fertilizer which could be from inorganic or organic sources. Pot experiment was conducted at the screen house of the Teaching and Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria from March through October, 2015. The experiment was designed to assess the direct and residual effects of different types of animal manures on soil properties and yield of pepper. There were four animal manure sources (pig, poultry, goat, rabbit), each applied at 20 t/ha and a control (no amendment). The pots containing each 10 kg of soil were arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. Six weeks old pepper seedlings were transplanted from the nursery to the potted soil. After the first planting, pepper seedlings were replanted (second planting) in each of the previously treated soils with no additional amendment. Results obtained showed that treatments applied significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased soil pH, organic matter, total N, available P, exchangeable Ca, Mg, ECEC and base saturation compared with control. Regardless of amendment, soil pH, available P, exchangeable bases, ECEC and base saturation decreased with residual time while organic matter and total N increased with residual time. Growth data of pepper collected at 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks after transplanting (WAT) were significant (P ≤ 0.05) compared with control in both planting. The highest fruit weights of 138.61 and 105.10 g/plant obtained from poultry manure treated plants in the first and residual planting, respectively were not significantly (P ≥ 0.05) higher than the fruit weights of 109.59 and 95.00 g/plant obtained from pig manure treated plants in the first and residual planting. Therefore, these animal manures are capable of sustaining the productivity of pepper in an acidic Ultisol of Akwa Ibom State.
Authors and Affiliations
Otobong B. Iren, Ime D. Uwah, V. M. Vincent
Assessment of Genetic Combinations for Hybrid Rice in the Germplasm of Pakistan
An attractive approach is development of rice hybrids for the increase in crop productivity. A narrow genetic base and limited parental lines are the hindrance in the development of location specific hybrids. In this stu...
Common Fungi Contamination Affecting Tissue-cultured Abaca (Musa textiles Nee) during Initial Stage of Micropropagation
Philippines is the world’s largest producer of abaca fiber, accounting for about 85% share of the global production in 2013. Plant tissue culture technology is being widely used for a large scale plant multiplication. Ev...
Evaluation of Fungal Flora and Aflotoxins from the Ground Nuts Collected from Various Regions of Warangal District
Aims: The aim of the current study is to screen about twenty three ground nut samples for the identification and detection of mycotoxin-producing fungi and type of mycotoxin. Study Design: The present investigation was d...
Contemporary Perspective of Drip Irrigation: A Review of Water Saving Crop Production
Aims: The main focus of this paper was to review the present status and performance of drip irrigation system. Place and Duration of Study: College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, China. During M...
Influence of NPK Blended Fertiliser on Soil Chemical Properties under Acidic Conditions of Western Kenya on Finger Millet Crop
Soil acidity is a serious problem that affects crop productivity in Western Kenya region. The county governments of Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia and Trans-Nzoia are promoting the application of NPK blended fertilizer...