Incorporation Of Organic Matter Research Articles

The Effect of Using NPK Fertilizer and Liquid Organic Fertilizer Vegetable Waste on the Vegetative Growth of Purple Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

An key factor in promoting the growth and development of plants is fertilizer. Both organic and inorganic fertilizers can be used for fertilization. If inorganic fertilizers are applied over an extended period of time without the incorporation of organic matter, the soil's quality may be compromised, leading to suboptimal plant development. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the optimal fertilizer dose for purple eggplant growth response, as well as the effects of NPK fertilizer, liquid organic fertilizer made from vegetable waste, and a combination of both on the vegetative growth of purple eggplant plants. A two-factor Complete Random Design was employed in this study, with three replicates and five treatment levels for each of the liquid organic fertilizer made from vegetable waste and NPK fertilizer treatment. The Anova two-way test was used to examine the data, and then the DMRT test was performed. The application of liquid organic fertilizer made from vegetable waste and the combination of the two fertilizers had a real effect on plant height, leaf area, wet weight, and dry weight but no real effect on the number of leaves, according to the results. On the other hand, the application of NPK fertilizer had a real effect on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, wet weight, and dry weight. The results of the DMRT test (5%) indicated that the optimal dosage for plant height, wet weight, and dry weight was 1.5 grams of NPK and 10 ml of liquid organic fertilizer made from vegetable waste; for the number of leaves, it was 1.5 grams of NPK and 2 grams, and for the area of leaves, it was 1 gram of NPK.

The Effect of Using NPK Fertilizer and Liquid Organic Fertilizer Vegetable Waste on the Vegetative Growth of Purple Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

An key factor in promoting the growth and development of plants is fertilizer. Both organic and inorganic fertilizers can be used for fertilization. If inorganic fertilizers are applied over an extended period of time without the incorporation of organic matter, the soil's quality may be compromised, leading to suboptimal plant development. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the optimal fertilizer dose for purple eggplant growth response, as well as the effects of NPK fertilizer, liquid organic fertilizer made from vegetable waste, and a combination of both on the vegetative growth of purple eggplant plants. A two-factor Complete Random Design was employed in this study, with three replicates and five treatment levels for each of the liquid organic fertilizer made from vegetable waste and NPK fertilizer treatment. The Anova two-way test was used to examine the data, and then the DMRT test was performed. The application of liquid organic fertilizer made from vegetable waste and the combination of the two fertilizers had a real effect on plant height, leaf area, wet weight, and dry weight but no real effect on the number of leaves, according to the results. On the other hand, the application of NPK fertilizer had a real effect on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, wet weight, and dry weight. The results of the DMRT test (5%) indicated that the optimal dosage for plant height, wet weight, and dry weight was 1.5 grams of NPK and 10 ml of liquid organic fertilizer made from vegetable waste; for the number of leaves, it was 1.5 grams of NPK and 2 grams, and for the area of leaves, it was 1 gram of NPK.

Effect of Soil pH Variation on Peanut Plant Growth

This research investigates the qualitative effects of soil pH variation on peanut plant growth, aiming to provide insights into the complex interactions between soil properties and plant responses in agricultural ecosystems. Through semi-structured interviews with ten informants, supplemented by insights synthesized from prior research and theoretical frameworks, the study explores perceived relationships, implications for soil health and nutrient availability, challenges, opportunities, and practical implications for peanut production. Key findings highlight the critical influence of soil pH on peanut growth and productivity, with deviations from optimal pH levels affecting nutrient availability, root health, and overall plant vigor. Participants underscore the importance of targeted soil management practices, including lime application, organic matter incorporation, and crop rotation, in optimizing soil pH and supporting resilient peanut production systems. The study identifies challenges in soil pH management, such as limited accessibility of soil testing services and inadequate farmer knowledge, while also highlighting opportunities for innovation and improvement. The insights gleaned from the study contribute to advancing knowledge in agricultural sciences and inform evidence-based soil management practices for sustainable peanut production.

Soil Health and Nutrient Management

Soil health and appropriate nutrient management are critical components of sustainable agriculture, influencing crop yield, environmental sustainability, and overall food security. The ability of soil to function as a living ecosystem is referred to as soil health. supports plant and animal life while protecting the environment. It refers to how physical, chemical, and biological activity interact in the soil. Mineral matter, organic matter, water, and air are all critical components of soil health, and each contributes to plant growth. Soil health indicators include physical, chemical, and biological factors that help assess the soil's state. For optimal soil health, these indicators must be balanced.
 However, there are significant issues to address, such as decreased soil organic matter, declining soil fertility due to nutrient deficits, physical soil degradation, and chemical soil degradation caused by excessive chemical use. Practices for sustainable soil management are critical for addressing these concerns. Balanced fertilization, organic matter incorporation, crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage, and precision nutrient delivery are examples of these. Mitigating issues such as nutrient pollution, soil erosion, and soil deterioration is critical to maintaining agriculture's long-term viability.

Permafrost degradation and its consequences for carbon storage in soils of Interior Alaska

Permafrost soils in the northern hemisphere are known to harbor large amounts of soil organic matter (SOM). Global climate warming endangers this stable soil organic carbon (SOC) pool by triggering permafrost thaw and deepening the active layer, while at the same time progressing soil formation. But depending, e.g., on ice content or drainage, conditions in the degraded permafrost can range from water-saturated/anoxic to dry/oxic, with concomitant shifts in SOM stabilizing mechanisms. In this field study in Interior Alaska, we investigated two sites featuring degraded permafrost, one water-saturated and the other well-drained, alongside a third site with intact permafrost. Soil aggregate- and density fractions highlighted that permafrost thaw promoted macroaggregate formation, amplified by the incorporation of particulate organic matter, in topsoils of both degradation sites, thus potentially counteracting a decrease in topsoil SOC induced by the permafrost thawing. However, the subsoils were found to store notably less SOC than the intact permafrost in all fractions of both degradation sites. Our investigations revealed up to net 75% smaller SOC storage in the upper 100 cm of degraded permafrost soils as compared to the intact one, predominantly related to the subsoils, while differences between soils of wet and dry degraded landscapes were minor. This study provides evidence that the consideration of different permafrost degradation landscapes and the employment of soil fractionation techniques is a useful combination to investigate soil development and SOM stabilization processes in this sensitive ecosystem.

Reclamation, land suitability evaluation and management strategy for soils of Tin mined area of Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, Nigeria

The rate of increase in land area used by man is continuously increasing with population growth, with resultant environmental degradation caused by mining and other anthropogenic activities. However, reclamation as well as land suitability evaluation are considered the basis and critical steps for determining the reuse direction of degraded land caused by several years of mining activities. Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate the land suitability for different crops production and suggest management practices for their reclamation. Parcel of land covering 224.29 ha on the northern part of Barkin Ladi in Plateau State, Nigeria was surveyed at a detailed scale of 1:6,000. Soil physical condition (petroplinthite), chemical fertility (nutrient retention and availability), low to moderate plant available water, poorly drained condition and erosion hazard were the land qualities that critically limited the suitability of soil mapping units BL II to BL V for the different crops. The evaluation showed that BL I was highly suitable under current suitability for maize, cowpea, green bean, onion and mango (55.55 % of the crops). The crop proportion rated as S1 increased to 88.88 % under potential suitability. The upgrade is expected to occur when the limitations identified are properly managed. Soil unit BL V degraded by previous mining is the least rated with most of the crops as temporarily and permanently not suitable. Land levelling or terrace construction and planting of mango as well as avoidance of bush burning were among management practices suggested to reclaim the deep gully associated with the degraded mined lands. For sustainable crops production and management of the study area; contour ridges, incorporation of organic matter and inorganic fertilizers as well as construction of drainage canals are recommended.

Efficacy of various organic and biofertilizer on the growth and yield of Brassica oleracea L. (Cabbage)

Organic manures and biofertilizers are widely renowned as effective all-encompassing approaches to improving soil quality. They utilise the benefits of organic components such as residual plant waste, compost, and manure. The incorporation of organic matter improves the structure of the soil, encourages microbial activity, and releases nutrients gradually. As a result, the study was carried out to evaluate whether organic manures were suitable for growing cabbage. This study adopted a randomised block design and included six treatments: vermicompost, poultry manure, farm yard manure, vermicompost + azotobacter, poultry manure + azotobacter and a control. The study assessed the cabbage’s growth and yield characteristics, including height of the plant, number of leaves, head diameter, weight, and overall yield. The results of the study demonstrated that cabbage’s growth and yield performance were significantly impacted by the application of organic manures. The highest production was obtained from the vermicompost +azotobacter treatment, which was followed by vermicompost and poultry +azotobacter. The use of organic manures led to considerable improvements in plant weight, height, and head diameter. In conclusion, the study provides useful knowledge on growing cabbage using organic manures. Farmers, legislative leaders, and various other agricultural sector decision-makers could employ the results of the investigation to promote profitable and sustainable cabbage growing techniques.

Ten-Year Impact of Cover Crops on Soil Organic Matter Quantity and Quality in Semi-Arid Vineyards

Soil organic matter depletion is a significant concern in agricultural soils, impacting crucial aspects of ecosystem health, especially soil properties such as fertility and soil moisture retention. Adopting sustainable soil management practices, such as cover crops, can mitigate this issue. In this study, we analyzed the soil organic carbon (SOC) content and quality in vineyards using two distinct management methods: permanent spontaneous cover crops and conventional tillage. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was quantified and chemically characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy. Our results showed an increase of 4.7 Mg C/ha in the carbon stock (50 cm depth) after 10 years of implementing vegetation covers compared with tilled soil. Additionally, cover crop management increased less humified soluble carbon in surface soil layers, while tillage transformed the solubilized carbon. This finding is important because tilled soil becomes more accessible to microbial degradation and leaching, which, in the long term, leads to a SOM content decrease. In conclusion, an increase in carbon stock was observed when using cover crops due to the incorporation of fresh organic matter, whereas tilled soils showed a depletion of carbon stock, including the mobilization of more stable carbon.

Managing nitrogen for sustainable crop production with reduced hydrological nitrogen losses under a winter wheat-summer maize rotation system: an eight-season field study.

Excessive nitrogen (N) application in wheat-maize cropping systems was adjusted towards more sustainable practices to reduce hydrological N losses while maintaining crop yield. In comprehensive quantification of N management effects on crop yield, N use efficiency (NUE), hydrological N losses, and soil nitrate residual across eight seasons, we have added to growing evidence of strategies beneficial for sustainable crop production with lower hydrological N losses. The results show that adjusted N practices enhanced crop yield and NUE, as compared to farmer's practices, but benefits varied with N rates and types. Optimized N treatment (OPT, 180 kg N ha-1 in both maize and wheat seasons) with or without straw returning produced the most crop yield. They increased maize yield by 5.5% and 7.3% and wheat yield by 6.2% and 3.2% on average, as compared to farmer's practice with huge N application (FP, 345 kg N ha-1 and 240 kg N ha-1 in maize and wheat). Regulation of N release through amendment with controlled release urea at a rate of 144 kg N ha-1 crop-1 (CRU treatment) obtained 4.4% greater maize yield than FP, and sustained a similar wheat yield with less N input, resulting in the highest crop NUE. Additionally, CRU was most effective in mitigating hydrological N loss, with 39.5% and 45.5% less leachate N and 31.9% and 35.9% less runoff N loss than FP in maize and wheat seasons. Synthetic N input correlated significantly and positively with runoff and leachate N losses, indicating it was one of the dominant factors driving hydrological N losses. Moreover, compared to OPT, additional straw returning (STR) or substituting 20% of the nutrients by duck manure (DMS) further reduced runoff N discharges due to the fact that organic matter incorporation increased resilience to rainfall. N over-application in FP caused considerable nitrate accumulation in the 0-90-cm soil profile, while the adjusted N practices, i.e., OPT, STR, CRU, and DMS treatments effectively controlled it to a range of 79.6-92.9 kg N ha-1. This study suggests that efforts using optimized N treatment integrated with CRU or straw returning should be encouraged for sustainable crop production in this region.

Short-term effects of subsoil management by strip-wise loosening and incorporation of organic material

Agricultural production in Central Europe increasingly suffers from extreme drought events. Improving root access to nutrient and water resources in the subsoil below the plow layer is a potential option to maintain productivity during dry summers. Here, we tested a strip-wise subsoil amelioration method that combines subsoil loosening with organic matter incorporation into the subsoil (biowaste or green waste compost) and compared it with a treatment of only subsoil loosening and a non-ameliorated control. A field experiment with randomized block design was conducted on a Luvisol with an argic horizon (Bt), with a rotation of spring barley and winter wheat. In the first two years after amelioration, we monitored soil physico-chemical parameters, microbial biomass, and shoot and root growth at anthesis as well as harvested grain yield and quality. Subsoil loosening with organic matter incorporation significantly decreased soil bulk density at the depth of compost incorporation when biowaste compost was used, but not when green waste compost had been incorporated. Nutrient stocks, nutrient availability and microbial biomass were not consistently affected by the subsoil amelioration. Nevertheless, the incorporation of organic material, especially biowaste compost, significantly increased root growth into the subsoil and subsequently significantly enhanced crop nutrient uptake, biomass and grain yield production. Green waste compost incorporation had less pronounced effects, with an increase in grain yield only in the second year after amelioration. Differences in crop development could not be explained by any single soil parameter, suggesting that it was rather a combined effect of loosened subsoil and better supply of subsoil resources that resulted in an increase in subsoil root length density and subsequently led to better crop performance.

Surface runoff and soil erosion from Nitisols and Ferralsols as influenced by different soil organic carbon levels under simulated rainfall conditions

Soil erosion poses a challenge to the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources, particularly in relation to agricultural production. The study aimed to assess the influence of different soil organic carbon (SOC) levels on runoff and soil erosion under varying levels of rainfall intensity. The study was conducted in pre-selected farmers' fields representing low, moderate and adequate SOC levels in Nitisols and Ferralsols. Two parallel experiments were set up in each type of soil using a split-plot layout arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design. The main plots were the different soil organic carbon levels while the sub-plots were the different simulated rainfall intensities. Rainfall simulation was then conducted to determine runoff and sediment losses on each soil type. The simulation was done using a land type sprinkler nozzle rainfall simulator (460 788 type) in an experimental plot of 1 m2, fenced with corrugated iron sheets with a small opening left for runoff collection. Runoff and sediment losses were determined from the volume collected in the jar. The data was subjected to analysis of variance and significant mean differences were determined using Tukey’s Honest Test at a 95% confidence level. Pearson correlation was applied to assess the relationship between runoff volume and sediment loss. The results showed that Ferralsols recorded significantly higher runoff and sediment losses compared to Nitisols, by 60.27% and 53.14% respectively. However, adequate SOC level portrayed a significant effect in reducing erosion in both soil types, where it reduced runoff and sediment loss by 45.30% and 48.38% in Ferralsols and by 65.31% and 48.22% in Nitisols, respectively. In both soil types, runoff yield was positively correlated to rainfall intensity while sediment yield was inversely correlated with SOC levels. Therefore, the study recommends incorporation of organic matter to adequate levels in both soils, for reduced soil erosion.

Model-based assessment of biomass incorporation to mitigate nitrogen losses from arable fields in Central Europe

Nitrogen (N) loss by leaching is a major concern in common crop rotations in Central Europe due to high post-harvest soil mineral N, low N uptake in autumn/winter, and percolation. This can lead to eutrophication of water bodies and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. One potential solution is to control microbial immobilization through the incorporation of organic matter. To examine the effectiveness of this approach, we compared the incorporation of crop residues from winter oilseed rape, faba beans, and winter wheat with the application of sawdust in a field-scale experiment. Field observations of the impact on autumn/winter N-dynamics were supplemented with model-derived parameters. Our results showed that the incorporation of crop residues significantly reduced autumn net mineralization in topsoil, with the largest reduction seen with cereal straw. However, the temporal dynamics of the effect did not meet the desired time frame, and the impact on N leaching was low. Field data, modeling processes, and a theoretical amendment assessment suggested that resistant organic matter accumulated under the given environmental conditions, probably resulting in a long-term effect on nutrient dynamics. In conclusion, incorporating crop residues from the preceding crop is the best option to date for mitigating post-harvest N losses and improving soil health with minimal crop management effort. However, controlling microbial immobilization through organic matter incorporation can be a useful measure whose effectiveness depends on the amendment used and field conditions.

Soil fauna bioturbation along a successional gradient following swidden agriculture in the lowland tropical rainforests of New Guinea

Mesocosm studies in temperate soils indicate that soil fauna may promote accumulation of C in mineral soil. To test if this effect apply also in tropics we used field mesocosms that were either accessible or inaccessible to soil fauna. To explore potential interaction with traditional land use we locate these mesocosms along a succession gradient following traditional swidden agriculture in the lowland tropical rain forest of Papua New Guinea.Soil fauna densities did not show any significant changes along the succession gradient. Litter fall in primary forest was significantly higher than in younger succession stages. Litter stock on the soil surface follows the same pattern as litter fall. Litter stock was a few percent higher than annual litter fall suggests that litter removal from soil surface takes slightly over one year. Our Mesocosm experiment shows the same speed of litter removal (about one year). Litter removal from surface and its incorporation of organic matter into mineral soil is faster in the fauna treatment compared to the non-fauna treatment. Overall loss of C from the system was higher when fauna was absent.Fauna reduced overall loss of C from the soil in average for more then 40%. In conclusion soil fauna play important role in organic matter transformation and soil C storage in tropical ecosystem. Fauna removal substantially reduce overall soil C storage.

Effect of Microbial Preparation and Biomass Incorporation on Soil Biological and Chemical Properties

In order to meet the global nutritional needs of a growing population, attempts are being made to develop strategies that can effectively offset the negative effects of intensive farming. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Effective Microorganisms (EM) preparation and organic matter incorporation on the soil microbiological and chemical features. The analyses included the number of heterotrophic bacteria, fungi, actinobacteria, cellulolytic, amylolytic and proteolytic microorganisms, and bacteria of the genus Azotobacter. The content of organic carbon, the total and mineral nitrogen forms of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and the pH were also determined. The application of an EM of higher dose combined with the manure and straw resulted in the highest abundance of heterotrophic bacteria (165.1 × 106 cfu g−1), actinobacteria (43.2 × 105 cfu g−1), cellulolytic (17.2 × 106 cfu g−1), and proteolytic bacteria (82.0 × 106 cfu g−1). The highest content of chemical parameters was always observed in the experimental variant, including biomass incorporation, accompanied by EM use. The novelty of our research is the analysis of the synergistic effect of the experimental factors studied on the microbiological and chemical parameters of arable soils.

Radiocarbon dating of archaeological textiles at different states of preservation

Archaeological textiles are suitable material for radiocarbon dating as they are mainly made of organic matter, such as plant and/or animal fibres. Radiocarbon dating provides objective age estimates of archaeological finds, based on measurements of the carbon-14 isotope present in the organic matter against an internationally used reference standard. However, the quantity and quality of carbon present in the organic matter of archaeological textiles can be affected either by the conditions under which the find was preserved (such as carbonisation, chemical change of organic matter to carbon, and mineralisation, which is the gradual replacement of organic matter by metal degradation products), or by the application of certain interventive methods of conservation (such as, consolidation and the application of organic adhesives that add foreign organic matter/carbon to the textile). Six case studies of archaeological textiles dated using the carbon-14 method are presented here. Two carbonised textile finds, two which were mineralised (one treated with adhesives in the past), and a final two which come from inhumation burials (similar to the textile previously treated with adhesives). This paper includes a discussion and review of the dating method, focusing on sample selection, sample preparation, and by evaluating the efficiency of the technique on textile finds at various states of preservation. This study shows that efficiency of the technique is highly dependable on the amount of carbon present in the finds, which does not seem to be affected by carbonisation, but is greatly affected by mineralisation and the incorporation of foreign organic matter, like synthetic consolidants.

Reniform Nematode Management Using Winter Crop Rotation and Residue Incorporation Methods in Greenhouse Experiments.

Rotylenchulus reniformis (reniform nematode, RN) is an important pathogen in cotton production. Cultural practices such as crop rotation and biofumigation-management of soil pathogens by biocidal compounds from crop residues-may help manage RN. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of winter crops for RN management through combinations of rotation and crop residue incorporation in a cotton greenhouse experiment. A total of 10 treatments were evaluated in soil inoculated with RN: three winter crops (carinata, oat, or hairy vetch) grown in rotation with no shoot organic matter (OM) incorporated (1-3), fresh shoot OM incorporated (4-6), or dry shoot OM incorporated (7-9), and a fallow control (10). Roots were re-incorporated in all treatments except fallow. Subsequently, cotton was grown. Oat and fallow were better rotation crops to lower soil RN abundances at winter crop termination than hairy vetch and carinata. After the OM incorporation treatments and cotton growth, oat was generally more effective at managing RN in cotton than carinata or hairy vetch. Within each crop, incorporation treatment generally did not affect RN management. Cotton growth was not consistently affected by the treatments.

The role of bromelain extraction waste product application for intensive land management practice

An intensive land management practice, especially, when related to long-live perennial crops such as pineapples, may lead to acute soil organic matter content depletion. However, incorporation of organic matter into soil in the middle of the planting season is not possible due to massive plant density. The application of bromelain extraction waste product as resistant organic matter resources might answer the problem. A set of experiments consisting of 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 tons/ha of bromelain waste, based on a case study at PT Great Giant Pineapple Plantation, Lampung, has been done to indicate its role in increasing soil physical quality. After being incubated for 5 months, the application of bromelain showed more stable soil particle aggregation through the slake test. Soil aggregate stability is getting better with the higher rate of bromelain waste application. Soil shear strength is negatively correlated to the rate of bromelain waste, where the higher rate of bromelain waste application, the lower the soil shear strength. Soil sensitivity is carried out to determine the potential loss of soil strength because of remoulding. It indicates a decrease in shear sensitivity following the increasing rate of bromelain waste.

Is biochar a promising soil amendment to enhance perennial crop yield and soil quality in the tropics?

Soil quality improvement is crucial in tropical soils to enhance crop productivity. Organic matter incorporation is not a viable approach regarding perennials as it completely degrades within a year. Hence, biochar is a sustainable solution to boost crop productivity in the tropics. Biochar has been utilized in agriculture for decades due to its inherent properties that enhance the soil-mediated properties associated with soil fertility. The impact of biochar on tropical perennial intensive cropping systems has been understudied, possibly because of the high initial input demand. This paper highlights the facts related to soil chemical, physical, and biological property enhancement upon biochar incorporation relating to long-term impacts on perennial crops.

A multi‐proxy study of Umbric Ferralsols genesis in a high‐mountain environment in Rio de Janeiro state

AbstractThe formation of strongly weathered soils of the tropics (Ferralsols) with high carbon stocks (thick A‐horizon/umbric horizon) is still not understood. In order to contribute to the understanding of the formation of Umbric Ferralsols, we studied these soils in the highlands of Rio de Janeiro state (Brazil) from various perspectives. We analysed soil morphology, micromorphology, physical and chemical soil attributes, soil phytolith assemblages, and δ13C isotopic composition in a multi‐proxy study. The profiles presented ferralic horizons with SiO2/Al2O3 ratio (ki index) < 1.0, low silt/clay ratio values, predominance of kaolinite and presence of gibbsite, and low cation exchange capacity. These characteristics indicate a high degree of weathering and ferralitization. The isotopic and phytolithic variations indicate climatic modifications during the Late Holocene (approximately 2300 years ago), with a predominance of mixed vegetation composed of plants of the C3 and C4 photosynthetic cycles. This condition favoured the accumulation of organic matter in the Umbric Ferralsols. The accumulation of organic matter in subsurface B horizons occurred under drier past climatic conditions in a savanna environment, which may have favoured the occurrence of fires, thereby explaining the charcoal fragments identified in the micromorphological analyses. In contrast, the development of the umbric horizon in the profiles was favoured under wetter environmental conditions than the present environmental conditions, and favoured the development of vegetation and intense accumulation of organic material on the surface and at depths close to 100 cm. The pedogenesis of umbric horizons in Ferralsols reinforces the importance of bioturbation in the incorporation of organic matter, intensifying the humification and resulting in a strong darkening of the soil (melanization).

SUITABILITY EVALUATION OF RAINFED RICE (ORYZA SATIVA) IN FLOOD PLAIN OF SOUTHERN GUINEA SAVANNAH ZONE OF NIGERIA

The flood plain of Awe in Southern Guinea Savannah Zone of Nigeria was studied for rice production. The physical, morphological and chemical properties of the soils were matched with the requirements of the rice production and the overall suitability rating of the soils was obtained using limitation method. The soils were deep (101cm – 170cm) and well drained, poorly to very poorly drained. The soils were fine textured and strongly to moderately acidic and slightly alkaline in reaction (pH 5.10 – 7.15). The percentage sand fraction ranged from 44.8% to 83.1%; silt 5.4% to 9.4% and clay 9.4% to 46.7%. They had low to moderate organic carbon (0.41% to 3.52%); total N (0.04% to 0.11%); available P (1.64mglkg-1 to 3.72mg/kg-1), total exchangeable bases (2.85cmol/kg-1 to 7.97cmol/kg-1), CEC (4.10cmol/kg-1 to 7.98cmol/kg-1), base saturation (65% to 97.5%) and Fe2+ (1.10 to 2.11). Soils of the three flood levels (toeslope or deep swamp, medium or lower slope, levee or shallow swamp) were rated highly to suitable (S1) because of the soils ability to retain water during the growth period with the favourable physical and chemical characteristics such as climate, slope, water levels, pH and texture. Management practices such as organic matter incorporation, liming to increase soil pH, fertilizer application and appropriate time of planting are hereby recommended for increased rice production in the mapping units that are not highly suitable for rice production in the study area.