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Volume 1 Number 3 September 2015

Variability in the Physico-chemical Properties of Soils of Similar Lithology in Three Land Use Types in Ahiazu Mbaise, Imo State Nigeria


Authors: Onwudike, S.U. ; Ihem, E.E. ; Irokwe, I.F. ; Onwuso, G.
Pages: 38-43
Abstract
Variability in the physicochemical properties of soils of different land uses form from the same lithology was studied. Soil samples were collected from surface (0 – 20 cm) and subsurface (20 – 40 cm) depths from three land use namely fallow land, continuous cultivated land and mechanic village land. The soils were air dried, sieved with 2 mm sieve and subjected to routine laboratory analysis. Results obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant treatment means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 0.05 probability level. Relationship between selected soil properties were determined using correlation analysis. Results showed that the textures of the studied soils were not affected by land use practices. Bulk density increased with increase in depth with fallow land recoding the lowest values of 0.86 g/cm3 (0.-20 cm depth) and 1.06 g/cm3 (20 – 40 cm depth). Land use types significantly (P = 0.05) affected soil chemical properties such as soil pH, soil organic carbon, total N, available P and exchangeable cations with the highest values recorded in fallow land, followed by palm plantation and the least was continuous cultivated land. There were slight variations among soil properties in the three land use types studied. Significant positive and negative correlations existed and some soil properties. Good soil management practices such as organic fertilization, zero tillage and mulching is recommended especially in continuous cultivated lands.


Nitrogen and Phosporus Fertilizers Rate as Affecting Common Bean Production at Areka, Ethiopia


Authors: Fisseha Negash ; Yayis Rezene
Pages: 33-37
Abstract
A field experiments were conducted for two year (2011and 2012) at Areka Agricultural Research Center, in the South Region of Ethiopia to evaluate the response of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to N and P fertilizers. Four levels of N (18, 27, 36 and 45 kg N/ ha) and three levels of P (46, 69 and 92 kg P2O5 /ha) with control were arranged in RCBD with three replications. Application of nitrogen increased significantly grain yield of common bean up to 116% than the control. And phosphorus application at a rate of 69 kg P2O5/ha increased significantly grain yield by 113% than control. The highest grain yield was obtained by the application of 45 kg N /ha and 69 kgP2O5/ha, though 45 kg N /ha rate had not cause statistically significant different grain yield than the preceding lower rates (36 and 27 kg N/ha). The economic analysis also supported that the highest net benefit of 23,110 Ethiopian Birr ETB/ha with marginal rate of return of 1270% was obtained  by the application of 27 kg N/ha. Net benefit of 21,070 ETB/ha with marginal rate of return of 80% were obtained by the application of 69 kgP2O5/ha. As a result, a combined application of 27 kg N/ha and 69 kgP2O5/ha are optimum and economical for better common bean production at Areka and similar areas.