Abstract
The stabilization and utilization of organic fertilizers in flood plain for sustainable agriculture in the tropics was studied in field experiment conducted at Etinan wetland soil (EW) of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria in the tropics during two cropping seasons (C. S.) to study the effects of two composted and stabilized organic fertilizers (poultry droppings, PD and cow dung, CD) on the microbial density and structure, soil properties, growth and yield of corn (<i>Zea mays</i>) according to standard procedures. The two treatments plus control, (the unfertilized plots) were arranged in a randomized block design with two replications giving three main plots; poultry manured plots (PM), cow manured plots (CM) and the control plots, C, which were sectioned into nine subplots on which was a total of 81 mounds on the study site. Results showed that PD and CD (450 gm<sup>2</sup>=4500 kgha<sup>-1</sup>) incorporated into the EW produced higher mean microbial density (Total heterotrophic bacterial counts, THBC=log 7.636 and 8.64, total actinomycetes counts, TAC=log 6.57& 6.62, diazotrophic bacterial counts, DBC=log 5.35 & 5.50 and total fungal counts, TFC=log 5.38 & 5.45 cfug<sup>-1</sup>) in both fertilized plots during the 1st & 2nd C. S respectively than in the control with 6.62 & 7.49, 5.59 & 5.52, 5.44 & 5.54, 4.5 & 5.49 cfug<sup>-1</sup> of THBC, TAC, DBC and TFC respectively. It was also shown that PD and CD application into EW produced higher physicochemical properties, nutrient salts, compared to the C. Growth/yield of the test crop, <i>Zea mays</i> were increased in the PM followed by CM compared to C in the EW during both C. S. Using the mean difference of two years, plants of PM had highest grain yield (4.16±0.16t t/acre) compared to (2.84±0.31t/acre) and (0.09±0.23t/acre) of CM and C respectively. The effects of one time application of the organic fertilizers (without reapplication on the 2nd C. S) indicated higher crop harvest index, H. I. (0.63 and 0.64) of treatment plots compared to 0.19 and 0.20 of the C. Therefore, utilization of PM to soils is recommended for sustainable crop production especially maize in the flood plain and in the tropics as a whole. It is also recommended that the CD could serve as a suitable substitute in the absence of PD. Wetland soils in the tropics should be converted from the hitherto wasteland to useful and sustainable arable lands with the utilization of stabilized and composted organic fertilizers.
Highlights
Agricultural activities have propelled the use and disposal of agrochemicals such as inorganic fertilizers into the environment with its attendant adverse effects on the environment as well as microbial activities, the need to adopt the less toxic fertilizer-the organic fertilizers e. g cow dung and poultry droppings (CD and PD)
This research was done in a field experiment in a tropical flood plain located at Etinan, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria during two cropping seasons to survey the stabilization and utilization of organic fertilizers in a wetland soil for sustainable agriculture in the tropics
The study area a tropical flood plain located in Etinan, designated Etinan wetland soil (EW) of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria (Figure 1)
Summary
Agricultural activities have propelled the use and disposal of agrochemicals such as inorganic fertilizers into the environment with its attendant adverse effects on the environment (increased soil acidity, nutrient imbalance) as well as microbial activities, the need to adopt the less toxic fertilizer-the organic fertilizers e. g cow dung and poultry droppings (CD and PD). Sharma and Sighn [1] reported that utilization of animal manures (CD, PD etc.) as land fertilizer is an important disposal method as it contributes to diminishing environmental pollution from indiscriminate dumping of animal wastes. In Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, the problem of appropriate disposal and reutilization of animal manures is being encountered Etuk [2]. Profile and Sustainable Maize Production in a Flood Plain in Nigeria opportunity to reduce its bulk, odour, pathogens, toxicity and increasing the nutritive value Devi, Sharma and Sighn [1]. This research was done in a field experiment in a tropical flood plain located at Etinan, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria during two cropping seasons to survey the stabilization and utilization of organic fertilizers in a wetland soil for sustainable agriculture in the tropics
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