EFFECT OF COMPLEMENTARY AND SOLE USE OF BIOCHAR, POULTRY DROPPINGS, UREA FERTILIZER AND THEIR COMBINATIONS ON SOIL PROPERTIES AND GROWTH PARAMETERS OF Amaranthus cruentus

  • I. D. Uwah Department of Agricultural Technology, Akwa Ibom State College of Science and Technology, Nung Ukim, Akwa Ibom State
  • C.J. Ijah Department of Soil Science, Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus
  • U. O. Peter Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, University of Uyo
  • O.B. Iren Department of Soil Science, University of Calabar, Calabar
Keywords: Amaranthus cruentus, poultry droppings, biochar and urea fertilizer

Abstract

Pot and field experiment were conducted to determine the effects of complementary and sole use of biochar, poultry droppings, urea fertilizer and their combinations on soil properties and growth parameters of Amaranthus cruentus. Fifteen treatments comprising of the control (no amendment), sole applied biochar (B), poultry droppings (P), urea (U) and their combinations (½ B + ½ U, ¾ B + ¼ U, ¼ B + ¾ U, Full B + ½ U, ½ B + Full U, ½ B + ½ P, ¾ B + ¼ P, ¼ B + ¾ P, Full B + ½ P, ½ B + Full Pand ½ B + ½ P+ ½ U) were laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in the screen
house and field, respectively. The treatments were replicated three times. Biochar and Poultry manure were applied at a rate of 20 t/ha while urea was at 60 kg N/ha. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and means compared using Duncan New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) at 5 % probability level. The
results obtained from this study revealed that the combination of all three amendments reduced bulk density. It also showed that combined applications of the amendments especially the combination of biochar and poultry droppings improved soil chemical properties and growth parameters than sole application of any of them for both pot trial and field experiment. For pot trial there were improvements in TN,Av.P, exchangeable Mg, K, ECEC and BS, whereas for field experiment only Av. P was significantly improved among the soil chemical properties. Additionally, the combination of ½ B + ½ P + ½ U (10 t/ha biochar + 10 t/ha poultry droppings + 30 kg N/ha urea) as well as ½B+ Full P and ½B+ ½U were found to be consistent in improving both soil chemical properties and plant growth parameters of Amaranthus. Hence complementary use of the amendments is recommended as sustainable nutrient source for vegetable farmers in the study area.

Published
2024-09-09
Issue
Vol 19 No 2 (2024): Vol 19 Issue 2
Section
Articles