Influence of Manures on Some Soil Fertility Properties, Yield and Agronomic Efficiencies of Soybean (Glycine max) on Degraded Acid Soil

Abstract

Aluminum toxicity is a major limitation to leguminous crop production in acidic soils but mineral and organic fertilizer applications could ameliorate the condition. Thus, the focus of this study was to evaluate the influence of manures on post-harvest soil fertility quality, yield and agronomic efficiencies of soybean (Glycine max). The study had six fertilizer treatments: poultry manures, rabbit manures, pig manures, sheep manures, cattle manures, single super phosphate and the control (no soil additive) laid in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with four replicates. The experiment was conducted at the greenhouse of the Wesley University, Ondo, Nigeria. The treatments were applied at the rate of 40 kg P205ha-1 and the effects of treatments on yield parameters (biomass, grain yield and total dry weight), relative agronomic efficiencies, as well as soil fertility status were observed. Data analysis using ANOVA at 5% level of probability showed the application of poultry manure to have enhanced soybean grain yield and yield component. Poultry manure treatment had the highest mean total dry weight of 11.5 g while SSP resulted in the lowest yield (4.7g). The efficiency of available P released from the applied poultry manure was 2 times higher than the referenced single super phosphate fertilizer in Ondo. Poultry manure application again had higher RAEDSW than to chemical fertilizer. Thus, applications of poultry or pig manures at 40 kg P205ha-1 could be excellent materials as alternatives to mineral fertilizer (single super phosphate) for improving soil fertility, yield of soybean and its agronomic efficiencies.