Changes in Some Soil Physico-Chemical Properties of Lithosols under Different Levels of Nitrogen and Cowdung Fertilizers in Mubi Area, North-Eastern of Nigeria,

Abstract

The research work was conducted to evaluate the changes in some lithosols soil physico-chemical properties under different levels of nitrogen and cowdung fertilizers in Mubi area, North-eastern of Nigeria. The Treatments comprised of five rates of N (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha- 1 ) and two levels of cowdung (0 and 5 ton ha- 1 ). These treatments were combined and arranged in an experiment laid out in Complete Randomized Design and replicated three times. Data were collected on some soil chemical properties and were subjected to analysis of variance. Correlation analysis was also carried out to assess relationship between measured parameters. The results showed that Differences in soil Available Phosphorus and Exchangeable Potassium concentration decreased in all the treatments except at 60 kg N ha- 1 by 30.23% for Exch. K while percent O.C, O.M, Ec and pH generally increased except for pH which slightly decreased at 60 kg N ha- 1 than at 120 kg N ha- 1 + 5 kg cowdung ha- 1 respectively. Significant positive correlation exists between leaf area and plant height with correlation value of r = 0.723 at (P 5%) and between pH with O.M content r = 0.442 at (P > 5%), while significantly negative correlation occurred between P content with leaf area r = -0.374 at (P > 5 %), and O.M with O.C content r = -0.612 at (P < 0.1%). It is therefore assessed that combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers produced more effect on maize growth and retained nutrient availability in the soil than sole application of each nutrient sources or none. Thus, 120 kg N ha -1 + 5 kg cowdung ha -1 should be adopted for maintaining soil physic-chemical properties and optimum growth of maize in the area.