POULTRY MANURE-PALM BUNCH ASH INTERACTION EFFECT ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF CASSAVA
OKOLI, N. A, OBIEFUNA, J.C, IBEAWUCHI, I.I, IHEJIRIKA, G.O, ALAGBA, R.A AND EMMA-OKAFOR, L. C
DEPARTMENT OF CROP SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, OWERRI
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ABSTRACT
Soil acidity and infertility are the major constraints in crop production in the tropical ultisol of the rainforest agroecology of Southeastern Nigeria. Experiment was conducted to determine the effect of poultry manure mixed with palm bunch ash on soil property and productivity of cassava for two years. The treatment combinations consist of four rates of poultry manure (0.0, 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0tha-1) and four rates of palm bunch ash (0.0, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0tha-1). The 4 x 4 factorial experiment was laid out as Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Data on cassava root growth, yield and soil physico-chemical properties were collected and statistically analyzed using Genstat 2000 software. The means were separated using Fisher’s Least Significant Difference at 5% level of probability. In both 2010 and 2012, application of 15tha-1 of poultry manure mixed with 3tha-1 of palm bunch ash improved the soil physico-chemical properties, cassava growth and yield (30.30tha-1and 29.09tha-1 respectively). The unmanured cassava further impoverished the soil, exhibited poor vegetative growth and low tuber yield in 2010 (19.67tha-1) and 2012 (18.45tha-1). Therefore, the application of 15tha-1 of poultry manure and 3tha-1 of palm bunch ash is recommended for sustainable cassava production in southeastern Nigeria.
Key words: poultry manure, palm bunch ash, manure, cassava
Introduction
Cassava (ManihotesculentaCrantz) is a root tuber crop. Cassava is the third major source of calorie for Nigerians in the form of fufu, garri, and chips (IITA, 2010).
Cassava is generally grown by resource-constrained farmers with little or no manuring because cassava can thriveon soils; low in fertility and pH, high Al and low phosphorus. However, poor soils result in poor yield and cassava is known to respond positively to adequate fertilization whether organic or inorganic (CIAT, 1999).
Ultisols of southeastern Nigeria agroecology are formed from coastal plain sands and are low in mineral reserves and fertility (FPDD, 1989). The soils are inherently infertile, high in acidity, with low cation exchange capacity, low base saturation and, usually has multiple nutrient deficiencies (FPDD, 1989).
The use of organic and inorganic fertilizers are advocatedto improve cassava yield in southeastern Nigeria. One of such measures is through the application of the recommended 400kg/ha of NPK 15-15-15 or 400kg/ha of 12-12-17-2Mg of inorganic fertilizers to cassava (FPDD, 1989). However, continuous use of inorganic fertilizer is hindered by its scarcity, high cost, nutrient imbalance, salinization, high soil acidity, destruction of soil biological life and structure (Ojeniyi et al., 2009). The use of crop residues, animal wastesand other locally available plant materials individually for ameliorating problems of soil acidity and nutrient imbalance has been emphasized recently in studies of fertility of tropical soil (Okoli et al., 2010; Ojeniyi et al., 2009; Okon et al., 2005).There is a limited information on complementary application of poultry manure and palm bunch ash on cassava. This researchwork investigated the effect of the mixture of poultry manure and palm bunch ash on the growth and yield parameters of cassava in Owerri west L.GA of Imo state, Nigeria.
Materials and Methods
The experiment was carried out at the Research Farm of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, which is located in the humid tropics of Nigeria (latitude 527’ N and 702 ‘E). The annual rainfall is about 2500mm and is bimodal with peaks in July and September. The area is characterized by daily minimum and maximum temperatures 20oC and 32oC, respectively. In terms of geology and geomorphology, the predominant parent material from which most of the soils are formed is the Coastal Plain Sands popularly known as “Acid Sands” (Orajaka, 1975).
Experiment was conducted during 2010 and 2012 early cropping seasons. TMS 30572 is an early maturing variety that has profuse vegetative growth, high root yield, and high garrification quality and is commonly used by the farmers of university host communities. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design in a 4 x 4 factorial arrangementand replicated three times. Treatments were four rate of poultrymanure (0, 5, 10 and 15tha-1) mixed with four rates of palm bunch ash (0, 1, 2 and 3tha-1). There was a total of 16 treatment combinations. Cassava stems of TMS 30572 were harvested from healthy and matured cassava plants at Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) field, Imo State. Palm bunch ash was obtained from Ada Palm plantation in Imo state. Cuttings of 25cm length were planted inclined at the spacing of 1m x 1m (10,000 stands per ha) in a plot size of 4.0m x 3.0m plots (20 cassava stands per plot). Cassava root tubers were harvested 10 MAP. Weeding was carried out at 3, 6 and 9 MAP.
Data were collected on cassava plant height, number of leaves, leaf area (using L x W x 0.44 {Ogokeet al., 2003}), number of roots per plant and root yield tha-1 from five randomly selected plants from the central row at 3, 6 and 9 MAP.Results were analyzed using statistical software, Genstat 2000. Means were separated using Least Significant Difference at 5% level of probability.
Laboratory Analytical Methods
Core soil samples were collected from the experimental site at 0-20cm depth before plantting and after harvest. Samples were analyzed for physico-chemical properties at the Crop Science Laboratory, Federal University of Technology, Owerri. Soil pH was analyzed by the use of pH meter (Hendershotet al., 1993), organic matter values were obtained by multiplying total carbon with 1.724 (Van Bemmelen’s correlation factor) (Nelson and Sommers, 1982), available phosphorus according to the procedure of Olsen and Sommers (1990), total nitrogen was by microkjeldahl digestion technique (Bremner, 1982), calcium and magnesium by Versnate titration method and potassium by flame photometer method. Poultry manure and palm bunch ash were analyzed for their nutrient status using the same procedures as for the soil analysis.
Results
Pre-planting soil analysis (Table II) indicated that apart from the acidic nature of the soil with a pH water of 5.16, the soil had 2.38% organic matter, 0.02% N, 3.64cmol/kg P and 0.004cmol/kg K.
Interaction effects of poultry manure x palm bunch ash significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased number of leaves at 3 and 6 MAP in 2010 and 2012 respectively. At 3 MAP, the application of 15tha-1 of poultry manure mixed with 3tha-1 produced highest number of leaves was produced in 2010 (33.33) and 2012 (34.20). Cassava produced without manure had lowest number of leaves in 2010 (20.43) and 2012 (2.70). At 6 MAP, the application of 10tha-1 of poultry manure mixed with 2tha-1 produced highest number of leaves was produced in 2010 (33.33) while in 2012 the application of 15tha-1 of poultry manure mixed with 3tha-1 produced highest number of leaves (34.20). Cassava manured with 1tha-1 of palm bunch ash produced lowest number of leaves in 2010 (30.30) while zero application of the manure mixture produced lowest number of leaves in 2012 (40.43).
Table 1: Characteristics of poultry manure, palm bunch ash and soil at planting in the experiment
2010 2012
Element Poultry manure Palm bunch ash Soil Soil
Mg (cmolkg-1) 6.80 21.87 0.54 0.50
Na (cmolkg-1) 12.10 88.00 0.002 0.01
Ca (cmolkg-1) 36.40 68.00 2.20 2.28
K (cmolkg-1) 15.50 440.64 0.004 0.003
Al (cmolkg-1) 1.38 0.00 0.18 0.20
P (cmolkg-1) 4.80 38.20 3.64 3.54
% organic carbon 3.08 6.86 1.26 1.34
% organic nitrogen 4.50 1.10 0.02 0.02
pH in H2O 8.12 8.20 5.16 5.11
% organic matter - - 2.38 2.48
Sand - - 89.50 91.60
Silt - - 7.02 6.45
Clay - - 3.48 3.50
Textural class - - Sandy loamy Sandy loamy
Cassava height was not significantly affected by poultry manure-palm bunch ash interaction at 3 and 9 MAP. However, at 6 MAP cassava height was significantly improved by poultry manure-palm bunch ash interaction in 2010 and 2012.
Leaf area was not significantly affected by poultry manure-palm bunch interaction at 3 and 6 MAP in 2010. In 2012, the application of 15tha-1 of poultry manure mixed with 3tha-1 palm bunch ash produced broadest leaf at 3, 6 and 9 MAP while the cassava produced without manure had smallest leaves at 3, 6 and 9 MAP.
Number of roots was not significantly affected by poultry manure-palm bunch ash interaction in 2010. In 2012, significantly highest number of roots was produced by cassava manured with 15tha-1 of poultry manure mixed with 3tha-1of palm bunch ash (9.95) while cassava manured with 1 tha-1 of palm bunch ash produced least number of roots (6.45).
Root yield was highest in cassava manured with 15tha-1 of poultry manure mixed with 3tha-1of palm bunch ash in 2010 (30.30) and 2012 (29.09) while cassava produced without manure had lowest root yield in 2010 (19.67) and 2012 (18.45).
Post-planting soil chemical properties showed that soil nitrogen, organic matter, calcium, potassium and pH improved with increasing rates of poultry manure-palm bunch ash mixtures application (Table VI).
Discussion
The results of the pre-planting physico-chemical analysis of the ultisol confirms the earlier reports of Ohiri (1992).
Number of leaves, leaf area and cassava height showed a significant increase as a result of availability of nitrogen in poultry manure. The increase in nitrogen found in the poultry manure had a profound effect on the vegetative development of the cassava plant. This finding is in conformity with results obtained by Okoliet al., 2010 and Duruigboet al., 2007 who independently reported increase in the growth of cassava with increased rates of poultry manure-palm bunch ash mixture. The observed decrease in plant height in cassava produced withoutpoultry manure-palm bunch ash mixtures could be attributed to low availability of nitrogen in the soil.
Cassava root yield increased with increase in manure mixtures to 15tha-1 of poultry manure mixed with tha-1 of palm bunch. This could be as a result of the supply of adequate nutrients required for optimum growth and root yield by the manure mixture as earlier reported by Okoliet al., (2011).
Number of root tubers increased with increasing rates of poultry manure-palm bunch ash mixtures. This agrees with the findings of Okoliet al. 2011 who reported increased number of tubers with the application of 15.0tha-1 of poultry manure mixed with 3.0tha-1 of palm bunch ash.
The post-planting soil physico-chemical analysis revealed an improvement in the soil physico-chemical properties following manuring and this agrees with the report of Brady and Weil (2004) on soil amendment properties of ash and manure.
Conclusion
The result of this study showed that the application of manure is an important agronomic practice in cassava production. Cassava growth and root tuber yield was improved with the application of poultry manure-palm bunch ash mixtures. Application of 15tha-1 of poultry manure mixed with 3tha-1 of palm bunch ash gave highest number of tubers and tuber yield per ha relative to the control. Therefore, application of 15tha-1 of poultry manure mixed with 3tha-1 of palm bunch ash is recommended to the farmers for improved tuber yield in cassava in southeastern Nigeria.
Table 2: Interaction effect of poultry manure x palm bunch ash on growth responses of cassava plants at 3, 6 and 9 MAP in 2010
------2010------
Poultry Palm bunch Number of leaves Plant height Leaf area
manure ash ------MAP------
------(tha-1)------3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9
0.0 0.0 20.43 40.30 86.00 36.10 53.00 180.90 266.00 188.00 88.70
1.0 20.77 30.30 92.00 43.10 97.70 198.30 520.00 348.00 132.30
2.0 25.77 53.00 106.00 50.60 88.70 209.20 357.00 227.00 125.90
3.0 29.33 38.00 77.00 36.90 128.00 210.30 503.00 433.00 155.20
5.0 0.0 23.50 42.63 89.00 40.30 121.20 215.40 413.00 526.00 165.10
1.0 26.00 46.30 96.00 50.70 122.50 203.60 679.00 326.00 155.80
2.0 20.87 55.30 103.00 52.90 92.30 210.40 618.00 370.00 143.90
3.0 26.00 53.00 105.00 43.60 113.70 195.70 474.00 434.00 160.30
10.0 0.0 22.70 43.30 94.00 45.50 127.00 214.60 532.00 379.00 148.60
1.0 26.43 57.70 97.00 54.70 147.30 221.90 624.00 415.00 165.30
2.0 27.67 74.30 108.00 49.30 104.70 211.40 564.00 443.00 178.10
3.0 31.00 55.70 101.00 58.40 142.00 211.00 550.00 375.00 161.40
15.0 0.0 23.50 67.30 127.00 46.40 159.20 223.40 605.00 457.00 180.50
1.0 30.00 73.30 99.00 65.30 143.70 224.10 728.00 421.00 163.70
2.0 26.53 65.70 102.00 57.10 117.00 234.70 618.00 427.00 177.60
3.0 33.33 70.00 107.00 73.20 155.60 254.70 646.00 505.00 193.10
LSD (0.05) 0.43 6.82 ns ns 8.51 ns ns ns 9.56
Table 3: Interaction effect of poultry manure x palm bunch ash on growth responses of cassava plants at 3, 6 and 9 MAP in 2012
------2012------
Poultry Palm bunch Number of leaves Plant height Leaf area
manure ash ------MAP------
------(tha-1) ------3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9
0.0 0.0 22.70 40.43 84.60 45.00 58.33162.20 114.60 86.90 84.60 1.0 23.75 50.43 90.00 46.90 92.37 183.40 201.50 152.30 130.30
2.0 26.48 43.25 105.10 54.10 97.30 190.80 170.70 108.90 120.40
3.0 29.52 45.06 88.10 55.90 126.77 187.40 223.80 194.30 156.78
5.0 0.0 24.50 43.07 88.00 57.40 122.27 198.40 179.10 185.00 161.80
1.0 26.06 46.37 93.70 67.10 124.43 192.60 250.30 150.30 158.30
2.0 22.64 54.33 102.80 60.70 92.97 200.30 278.60 168.30 148.60
3.0 28.53 53.67 105.80 53.80 114.93 196.50 234.60 186.10 157.20
10.0 0.0 24.57 44.20 94.00 57.00 126.50203.50 226.10160.90 150.80 1.0 27.93 58.07 99.10 59.60 147.67 206.40 241.30 179.30 162.70
2.0 29.27 68.17 108.10 56.80 107.73 206.30 255.30192.50 173.30
3.0 32.20 56.10 108.80 65.10 142.33 201.70 270.60170.30 165.30
15.0 0.0 24.87 67.93 97.40 61.80 158.47 215.30 260.30203.10 160.40 1.0 31.93 67.83 99.90 60.30 142.70 218.10 270.60 182.50 168.40
2.0 29.28 66.03 105.40 63.10 126.83 232.00 285.60 192.40 181.30
3.0 34.20 70.50 107.40 76.40 156.73249.20 296.30 218.60 190.60
LSD (0.05) 2.82 5.69 ns ns 8.02 ns 41.66 11.80 10.70
Table 4: Interaction effect of poultry manure x palm bunch ash on yield responses of cassava plants at 10 MAP in 2010 and 2012
------2010------2012------
Poultry Palm bunch Number of roots Yield Number of roots Yield
manure ash
------(tha-1) ------
0.0 0.0 7.11 19.677.12 18.45 1.0 6.11 20.33 6.45 19.11
2.0 8.00 21.93 7.77 21.82
3.0 8.23 23.37 8.30 22.80
5.0 0.0 8.42 20.67 8.11 20.12 1.0 9.33 22.00 9.17 21.83
2.0 8.19 23.33 8.15 22.64
3.0 8.06 23.67 7.89 23.23
10.0 0.0 8.89 22.33 8.65 20.92
1.0 7.00 24.67 7.26 23.72
2.0 9.44 23.67 8.82 23.34
3.0 7.61 25.67 7.97 24.89
15.0 0.0 9.56 24.33 7.96 24.30
1.0 7.56 26.67 8.24 26.12
2.0 8.67 28.67 8.30 27.72
3.0 9.93 30.30 9.95 29.09
LSD (0.05) ns 4.22 1.06 2.65
Table 5: Post-planting chemical properties of the soil in 2010
Poultry Palm pH in %N Ca Mg K Na Al + H Al % % P
Manure bunch H2O cmolkg-1 organic organic cmol/kg
(tha-1) ash (tha-1) Carbon matter
0.0 0.0 5.15 0.02 0.58 0.15 0.01 0.06 0.76 0.46 1.21 2.79 3.87
1.0 5.30 0.03 2.10 0.29 0.02 0.04 0.75 0.17 1.43 3.10 4.54
2.0 5.40 0.02 2.67 0.31 0.01 0.03 0.78 0.46 1.45 2.50 5.32
3.0 5.52 0.02 2.85 0.46 0.02 0.06 0.38 0.24 1.52 2.68 5.60
5.0 0.0 6.00 0.03 3.40 0.27 0.03 0.03 0.83 0.46 1.65 2.81 5.68
1.0 6.15 0.03 3.65 0.25 0.04 0.04 0.75 0.41 1.66 2.79 5.38
2.0 6.17 0.02 3.56 0.26 0.02 0.03 0.74 0.43 1.61 2.60 5.48
3.0 6.36 0.03 3.86 0.30 0.03 0.03 0.77 0.45 1.59 2.72 5.76
10.0 0.0 6.08 0.03 3.28 0.32 0.03 0.04 0.95 0.70 1.68 2.62 5.08
1.0 6.24 0.03 3.41 0.33 0.04 0.03 0.86 0.47 1.56 2.68 5.42
2.0 6.35 0.04 3.48 0.36 0.06 0.03 0.70 0.30 1.62 2.92 5.79
3.0 6.56 0.03 3.92 0.35 0.06 0.03 0.75 0.50 1.74 2.85 5.81
15.0 0.0 6.23 0.04 3.58 0.35 0.03 0.03 0.70 0.31 1.60 3.03 5.50
1.0 6.45 0.03 3.69 0.36 0.04 0.05 0.97 0.56 1.63 3.11 5.78
2.0 6.68 0.04 3.86 0.39 0.05 0.03 0.82 0.55 1.87 3.58 6.20
3.0 6.75 0.05 4.40 0.39 0.05 0.04 0.65 0.44 1.83 3.42 6.80
Table 6: Post-planting chemical properties of the soil in 2012
Poultry Palm pH in %N Ca Mg K Na Al + H Al % % P
Manure bunch H2O cmolkg-1 organic organic cmol/kg
(tha-1) ash( tha-1) Carbon matter
0 0 5.13 0.027 0.52 0.13 0.014 0.035 0.76 0.48 1.616 2.786 6.30
1 5.19 0.041 2.64 0.30 0.021 0.035 0.76 0.20 1.825 2.847 6.20
2 4.95 0.022 2.48 0.37 0.014 0.030 0.80 0.48 1.456 2.511 4.90
3 5.13 0.026 2.84 0.27 0.082 0.065 0.40 0.25 1.536 2.648 7.70
5 0 6.13 0.028 3.80 0.17 0.015 0.039 0.83 0.46 1.666 2.879 5.60
1 6.09 0.033 3.60 0.17 0.038 0.042 0.80 0.44 1.676 2.889 4.50
2 6.88 0.025 3.50 0.15 0.023 0.039 0.76 0.48 1.516 2.614 4.50
3 6.14 0.036 3.38 0.25 0.033 0.038 0.76 0.44 1.576 2.717 7.00
10 0 6.16 0.033 3.40 0.37 0.019 0.042 1.04 0.72 1.696 2.924 5.60
1 6.11 0.034 3.45 0.25 0.019 0.035 0.88 0.48 1.556 2.683 3.50
2 6.12 0.045 3.49 0.18 0.027 0.035 0.72 0.32 1.855 3.199 4.90
3 6.12 0.032 4.10 0.33 0.018 0.030 0.80 0.52 1.676 2.889 6.70
15 0 6.10 0.038 3.70 0.18 0.023 0.035 0.72 0.24 1.616 2.786 4.20
1 6.77 0.043 4.58 0.17 0.059 0.061 0.96 0.60 1.476 2.545 4.50
2 6.90 0.041 3.49 0.35 0.026 0.035 0.92 0.56 1.676 2.889 4.90
3 6.09 0.050 3.61 0.15 0.014 0.026 0.68 0.16 1.897 3.304 6.70
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