Effect of Dried Algae and N Fertilizers to Soil Chemical Properties and the Yield of Amaranthus (Amaranthus cruentus) on Ultisols Southeastern Nigeria
Journal Title: Asian Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition - Year 2017, Vol 2, Issue 1
Abstract
Organic manure plays an important role in improving the fertility of Ultisols. A pot experiment to investigate the effect of dried algae and N fertilizer on the chemical properties and the yield of Amaranthus on Ultisol was conducted from March to June, 2017 in the Green House of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State of Nigeria, located at latitude 5°29’N and longitude 7°35E and on elevation of about 122 m above sea level with mean annual rainfall of about 2163 mm, mean daily temperature range of 35°C to 20°C and a relative humidity of about 72%. The experiment was arranged as Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with factorial pattern, consisted of two factors and provided with three replications. The first factor was the application of dried algae (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 t/ha) and the second factor was the application of N fertilizer (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg/ha). The observed responds were chemical soils properties (pH, organic carbon, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, exchangeable bases, exchangeable acidity and effective cation exchange capacity) and the growth and the crop yield (plant height, numbers of leaves, stem girth and fresh yield). The experimental results revealed that the addition of dried algae as organic ameliorant and N-fertilizer improved most of the soil fertility properties as lone and combined treatments except in available P, total N were interaction effect were not significant. Application of 1-4 ton of algae without N fertilizers has increased the fresh yield about 73.85 to 91.65%, while the application of N fertilizers without dried algae application increased only about 25.20 to 29 87% of the fresh crop yield. The application 4 ton ha-1 dried algae without N-urea had the highest fresh yield of 89.87 g plant-1, while the highest fresh yield of about 30.13 g plant-1 without application of dried algae was obtained by the application of 120 kg ha-1 N-urea. Generally, the highest fresh yield of 97.13 g plant-1 was obtained by application of 4 ton ha-1 dried algae and 80 kg ha-1 N-urea. Consequently, the application of 4 ton ha-1 dried algae and 80 kg ha-1 N-urea has a great prospect to improve the properties of Ultisols, to enhance the fertilizers efficiency and to increase the yield of Amaranthus.
Authors and Affiliations
E. O. Azu, Donatus, V. E. Osodeke, O. U. Nwanja
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP337939
- DOI 10.9734/AJSSPN/2017/37538
- Views 82
- Downloads 0
Irrigation Regime and Soil Conditioner to Improve Soil Properties and Pomegranate Production in Newly Reclaimed Sandy Soil
A field experiment was conducted during the two successive seasons of 2014 and 2015 on pomegranate trees cv. Wonderful (Punica granatum L.). The trees were grown in newly reclaimed sandy soil located at the 64 km on the...
Morphology, Physicochemical Characterisation and Erodibility of Soils of Boboyo (Far - North Cameroon)
The present work contributes to the study of soils in the Northern part of Cameroon, precisely in Boboyo region soils. This work aims to study morphology and physicochemical characteristics of those soils and to assess t...
Effect of Micronutrients Application on Soil Properties of Sapota (Achras sapota L.) cv. Kalipatti
Field experiments were conducted to determine the effects of micronutrients application on soil properties of sapota (Achras sapota L.) cv. Kalipatti at Kittur Rani Chennamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, India, dur...
Determination of Heavy Metals and Phytochemical Analysis of Some Selected Vegetables Grown at Kalambaina Area Sokoto
Heavy metals and phytochemicals were investigated in some selected vegetables grown at Kalambaina area of Sokoto. The levels of heavy metals and phytochemicals were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometric (AAS) an...
Relationship between the Absorption Behavior of Iron and Silicon by Plant and the Macronutrients Affected by Some Sandy Soil Additives
Aims: A field experiment was carried out to study the relationship between the plant content of iron (Fe) and/or silicon (Si) and the macronutrients under the sandy soil conditions in presence of soil additives different...