Soil Nutrient Dynamics in Ngor Okpala Cassava-Based Farming System as affected by Organic Manure
2025
Njoku, N.R.
Understanding the dynamics of plant nutrients is important for addressing such issues as the fragility of tropical soils and their sustainability for crop production. Field experiments were conducted at Ngor Okpala of Imo State, Nigeria, to determine the effects of organic fertilizers on soil nutrient dynamics in a cassava (Manihot esculenta)- based farming system. The experiment was a randomized complete block (RCB) design with three replications. Six organic manure treatments were chosen, each applied at the recommended rate of 400kg ha-1 were poultry dropping (PD), Ash (PBA), pig manure (PM), cow dung (CD, a combination of all the organic manures (CB) and control (without organic manures, CT). Over two cropping seasons, soil chemical properties sampled at 0 – 15, 15 – 30 cm depths showed nutrient changes in the soil. The addition of organic manures increased soil pH, TN content, available P, exchangeable cations, and ECEC over the control (CT) with no input. In 0 – 15 cm depth, PD has the distinctly highest TN content and lowest SOC, while the CD and PBA treatments have the highest P, the PBA and CD treatments gave significantly the highest increase in soil pH and ECEC over other organic manures. For most of the chemical properties in both depths, there was no significant difference between the treatments. The combination of organic manures (CB) treatment did not improve the soil properties and TN content above the other organic manures in both depths. Generally, application of organic manures significantly enhanced soil nutrients in the study area and thereby improved the soil fertility. For most of the soil nutrients evaluated, there were no significant differences between the PD and PBA. PBA was therefore recommended when compared with the cost effects of PD, and because PBA is readily available for farmers in the study area.
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