Abstract
In tropical and subtropical areas, the importance of organic manure in improving soil physico-chemical properties and crop production for food security cannot be overemphasized. A study was conducted during 2012/2013 crop years to investigate the effects of rumen digesta on the physical and chemical properties of soils in Nsukka, Enugu state Nigeria. The soil samples collected from Opi, Nsukka were treated to four rates of rumen digesta (viz. 0, 50, 100, and 150 gkg soils). Physical and chemical properties of the soil were determined pre and post-experiment. The results obtained revealed that rumen digesta significantly (p = 0.05) increased the mean weight diameter (0.49 to 1.75mm), aggregate stability (54.7% to 75.3%), soil pH (3.8 to 7.8), total nitrogen (0.01% to 0.02%), exchangeable sodium and potassium (0.22 to 4.39cmolkg for Na + and 0.30cmolkg to 4.31 for K +), CEC (7.2 to 14.9cmolkg -) and organic matter content (0.97% to 4.29%). It had no significant effect on the texture, micro-aggregate (measured as dispersion ratio), exchangeable calcium and magnesium content of the soils. The study found significant reduction in the exchangeable aluminum (1.5 to 0.0cmolkg -) and hydrogen content (3.7 to 2.2cmolkg -) of the soils. It recommended that farmers can improve the physical and chemical properties of soils by using rumen digesta as an alternative liming material.
Highlights
The use of organic manures for crop production is an age-old agricultural practice among subsistence farming communities in the West African sub-region (Lombin et al, 1991)
It had no significant effect on the texture, micro-aggregate stability, exchangeable calcium and magnesium content of the soils
The results show that there were significant (p=0.05) increases of the aggregate stability (AS) of the treated soils when compared to untreated soils at higher rates of rumen digesta application
Summary
The use of organic manures (especially ruminant dung, poultry droppings, household refuse and effluents) for crop production is an age-old agricultural practice among subsistence farming communities in the West African sub-region (Lombin et al, 1991). In many developing countries (for example Nigeria), the likelihood of obtaining enough synthetic fertilizers to meet the food crop requirements of the farming population is remote. The ever-increasing demand for food has intensified the quest for more production per unit area and for an increase in land under arable cultivation. Farmers in the tropics and the subtropics have been forced to eliminate fallow.
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