Effect Of Organic Amendments On Some Physical And Chemical Properties Of Soils Planted To Sweet Melon (Cucumis Melo L.) In Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Peter, K.D
Department of Crop/Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Rivers State University, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Orji. O.A.
Department of Crop/Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Rivers State University, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Bakare, A.O.
Department of Soil Science and Land Resource Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State
Keywords: Amendment materials, physical and chemical properties, Port Harcourt, sweet melon, ultisols
Abstract
This study was conducted in Teaching and Research Farm, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria with the sole aim of assessing the effect of organic amendments on some physical and chemical properties of the soils planted to sweet melon (Cucumis melo L). The treatments administered were no amendment (control), 10 ml of organic liquid fertilizer (OLF), 20 kg of poultry dropping (PD) and 20 kg of pig manure (PM). The experiment were laid out in a Randomized Completely Block Design replicated three times. Soil samples were collected from each of the treatment plot using hand trowel before application, two weeks after application, six weeks after application and transplanting and after harvesting and were analyzed for soil physical and chemical properties such as bulk density, total porosity, soil temperature, soil pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases, cation exchange capacity, total exchangeable acidity and percent Base saturation. The results showed that application of the various amendment materials improved soils physical and chemical properties. Bulk density decreased from 1.87 M gm-3 before amendment to 1.28 Mg m-3 in soil amended with pig manure. Total porosity also increase from 36.9 % in soils before amendment to 65.5% in soils amended with pig manure six weeks after transplanting (6WAT). Soil pH was higher (7.70) in soils amended with poultry dropping compare to control (5.40). There was also an increase in soil organic carbon in soils amended with poultry droppings from (1.88 g/kg) in comparison to control (1.00 g/kg) and after harvest (AH). Total nitrogen increase to 0.72 g/kg after harvest in soils amended with poultry dropping as compared to control (0.05 g/kg) after harvest. Available phosphorus also increased to 0.14 g/kg in soil amended with organic liquid fertilizer (OLF) compared to control (0.013Mg/kg) in after harvest. Poultry dropping was recommended for the improvement of some soil physical and chemical properties and soil fertility status. Therefore, there is need for further research on the recommended rates of application for effective improvement in soil physical and chemical properties for sustainable agricultural production.