International Journal of Soil Science and Agronomy Vol.2 (3), pp. 060-066, March, 2015.© Advanced Scholars Journals 

Full Length Research Paper

Nutrient intake by Abelmuscus esculentus and its impacts on soil concoction properties as influenced by the use of manure

Imo Idahosa¹* and Ame Eki²

Department of Soil Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

Email:[email protected]

Accepted 15 February, 2015

Abstract 

A field experiment was conducted as an on-farm trial at Uyinmwendin (Rhodic Paleudult), Edo State, Nigeria, in 2009 and 2010 to investigate the residue of compost manure, compost manure + NPK and NPK fertilizer treatments on nutrient concentration and uptake of Abelmuscus esculentus and soil chemical properties. Five treatments were selected viz: untreated (control), compost manure applied at the rate of 20 and 40 t ha^-1, NPK applied at the rate of 200 kg ha^-1 and compost manure + NPK (that is, complementary use of compost manure applied at 20 t ha^-1 and NPK applied at 100 kg ha ^-1) using randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Analysis of the soil indicated that the soil is acidic, with low nutrient status. Application of fertilizer influenced the soil nutrient status positively. Optimum fruit yield was obtained at 40 t ha^-1 compost (49.13 t ha ^-i). Residually, the N, P and K concentration of okra were significantly higher in compost manure applied at both 20 (2.52% N, 0.43% P and 2.38% K) and 40 t ha^-1 (2.09% N, 0.41% P and 2.18% K) and compost manure (2.13 % N, 0.43% P and 1.18% K) than NPK (1.22% N, 0.13% P and 0.62% K) and control (0.73% N, 0.11% P and 0.28% K). Compost manure used solely and in complementary quantity with NPK had higher nutrient uptakes than sole NPK use. The soil N, P and K concentrations were reduced by cropping. They were lowest in untreated control and increased with fertilizer application. The compost manure and compost manure + NPK showed a greater potential for increasing plant macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) contents. The increases in the soil N, P and K contents after cropping associated with compost manure + NPK treated plots is an indication that compost manure + NPK treatment is a better alternative to inorganic fertilizers because it can sustain continuous cropping.

Key Words: Nutrient content and uptake, soil amendments, soil chemical properties.