Effect of sugarcane bagasse ash and manure amendments on selected soil properties in Western Kenya

Abstract

This research determined the effects of incorporating sugarcane bagasse ash and cattle manure on soil pH, available P, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) during a 2 seasons’ field experiment in Kakamega County of Western Kenya. The experiment used a Randomized Complete Block Design, 3 replications, and a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. Sugarcane bagasse ash and cattle manure application showed highly significant effects on soil properties at P≤0.01. The combined application of 5 t ha-1 sugarcane bagasse ash with 5 t ha-1 cattle manure raised soil pH by 0.18, and with 10 t ha-1 manure by 0.17. These increments were higher than the positive control (2 t ha-1 lime alone), that raised soil pH by 0.03, while negative control (no amendment) decreased soil pH by 0.01 at the end of the 2nd season. Soil available P increased by 6 ppm due to 5 t ha-1 cattle manure and by 4 ppm due to 5 t ha-1 sugarcane bagasse ash. Soil CEC increased due to high application rates of cattle manure at the end of the second season. This study concluded that, the incorporation of sugarcane bagasse ash and cattle manure increased soil pH, available P and CEC. Key words: Available P, bagasse ash, cation exchange capacity (CEC), cattle manure, soil pH, Western Kenya.