Research Papers/Topics in Soil Science

Mapping Soil Quality at Baifikrom Small Scale Irrigation Scheme in the Central Region of Ghana

ABSTRACT Continuous irrigation has been observed to degrade soil quality, through leaching of soluble and colloidal materials, development of saline conditions and breakdown of soil structure. Evaluating the quality of soils give information on the current soil condition as has resulted from previous soil management practices such as continuous application of fertilizer, and direct future management practices to sustain the soil ecology. Soil physical parameters (aggregate stability); Chemica...

Influence of Fertilizer Application, Maize Variety and Tillage System on the Incidence and Severity of Maize Streak Disease and Grain Yield

ABSTRACT Maize streak disease (MSD), one of the most destructive maize diseases causes an estimated yield loss of about 20 % in Ghana. A baseline survey was conducted from July to August, 2015 across three agro-ecological zones within the Volta Region to assess the level of MSD incidence and severity in the zones. In addition, field experiments were conducted at Nkwanta during the cropping seasons of 2015 to assess the effects of tillage practices, maize variety and fertilizer application on ...

NODULATION, NITROGEN FIXATION AND DIVERSITY OF THE AFRICAN YAM BEAN RHIZOBIA IN FOUR GHANAIAN SOILS

ABSTRACT Indigenous and traditional crops are very essential in the survival strategies of local farmers, since they have multiple uses such as a variety of plant parts that can be consumed as well as for medicinal purposes. Traditional crops play an important role in achieving food security as well as conserving biodiversity. Some of these indigenous crops (e.g. legumes) have the capacity to establish and grow relatively well on poor fertility soils where crops such as maize (a major staple...

PEDOGENIC CHANGES AND PHOSPHORUS AVAILABILITY IN SOME SOILS OF NORTHERN GHANA

ABSTRACT Pedogenic changes and P saturations in five ferruginous soils (Lixisols or Alfisols) and their associated nodules on two different landscape positions in northern Ghana were investigated. Tingoli, Tolon and Kumayili series are well drained upland soils which occur on one landscape (toposequence 1). Kpelesawgu series which is imperfectly drained and Changnalili series which is poorly drained occur on a relatively lower landscape (toposequence 2). Chemical, physical and mineralogi...

THE POTASSIUM STATUS OF SOILS AND ITS ABSORPTION BY CASSAVA IN SELECTED FARMS IN THE CENTRAL REGION

ABSTRACT Potassium (K) plays an outstanding role in plants and animals. Cassava, a widely grown staple in Ghana is noted for extracting large amounts of K from the soil. Cassava’s ability to absorb K from the soil is worth studying as it is vital for sustainable production and biofortification. The study was conducted to assess cassava’s ability to absorb K under fertilized and unfertilized systems. Two cassava genotypes, Cape Vars and Botan were grown under different fertilizer treatment...

THE IMPACT OF NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT OPTIONS ON SOIL ORGANIC CARBON POOLS AND MAIZE YIELD IN NORTHERN GHANA

ABSTRACT Exponential growth in human population has led to the exploitation of natural resources e.g. organic matter reserves for crop production. Various interventions such as manuring, fertilization, green manuring etc. have been proposed to enhance continuous crop production. However, the sustainability of these methods are unknown. Soil productivity depends largely on organic carbon stocks (SOC). The labile organic matter fraction or pool is associated with nutrient dynamics and responds ...

RESPONSE OF OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus L.Moench) TO BIOCHAR DERIVED FROM COCOA POD HUSK AND NPK

ABSTRACT The need to improve soil fertility and enhance crop production has led to a renewed interest in the use of cocoa pod husk (CPH) in form of biochar, an organic fertilizer, relative to, mineral fertilizer as soil amendment. The deleterious effect of inorganic fertilizer, on the environment, has been enumerated and the global effect of CPH. Field experiment on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus ) fertilized with Biochar. deried from cocoa pod husks (CPH), was conducted at the Cocoa Research I...

THE INFLUENCE OF DRIP IRRIGATION FREQUENCY AND MULCHING ON THE SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND YIELD IN OKRA. (Abelmoschus esculentus)

AbstractSeveral irrigation systems or methods have been use by many people to efficiently provide water for crop productivity. Drip irrigation system has been a best method so far, supplying water to plant, maximizing water usage, it tends to be cost effective and reduces stress. The field experiment was conducted between January 2017 and March 2017 at the Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (lkole Campus). The experiment design used entail; two factorial laid in a random...

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LAND USE ON SOME SELECTED PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND MICRO-AGGREGATE STABILITY INDICES IN TWO AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES IN EKITI STATE, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA.

 ABSTRACT A study was conducted to investigate changes that may occur in the soil due to conversion of forest land to plantation, fallow and arable lands. Four locations in two-agro-ecological zones at Ikole Local Government Area, Ekiti State, were used for this study. They are; Itapaji (L 1), Asin (L2); in rainforest agro-ecological zone and Odo-Ogo (L3), Odo-Ayedun (L4) in derived savannah. Soil parameters evaluated include particle size distribution, bulk density, saturated moisture conte...

THE EFFECT OF LAND USE ON SOIL AGGREGATE STABILITY AND SOIL CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN SOME SELECTED SOILS OF SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA

 Abstract The Information on the effect of different land use systems on the aggregate stability and carbon sequestration is crucial for the recommendation of efficient land management practices. This study was conducted to evaluate the variation in aggregate stability and carbon sequestration under different land use systems in two agro ecological zones of south eastern Nigeria. The agro ecological zones were derived savannah and rainforest while the land use systems studied were cultivate...

LNFLUENCE OF BIOCHAR ON VEGETABLE (Amaranthus viridis) UPTAKE ON CADMIUM CONTAMINATED SOIL

 ABSTRACT Cadmium (Cd) is a common  environmental contaminant found in soils. Unlike other metals. Cd has no biological role, and is potentially toxic to microorganisms. The concentrations of cadmium in agricultural soils depend upon the amounts present in the parent rocks from which the soils form, the amounts added in the form of fertilizers and soil amendments, the amounts deposited onto soils from the atmosphere, and the amounts removed by harvested crops and by leaching. Its aim was t...

EFFECT OF MEXICAN SUNFLOWER (Tithonia diversifolia) MULCH ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

 ABSTRACT Greenhouse study was conducted at Federal University Oye- Ekiti, Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management between June and August 2016 to compare the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) using different rates of organic (Tithonia diversifolia) and Inorganic fertilizer. The effect of the amendments on the soil chemical properties was also evaluated. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design with four replications. Tithonia diversifolia was appl...

LAND EVALUATION STUDIES OF SOME SELECTED SOILS IN IKOLE SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

 ABSTRACT Sustainable use of soils requires in-depth knowledge of the formation, genesis and properties of soil. It is in view of this that some soils derived from granitic parent rock in Ikole, South- western Nigeria covering 33.7 hectares of land where mapped at a scale of 1:50,000 using a combination of convectional and remote sensing methods of soil survey. The objective was to generate detailed information on the properties of the soil for their sustainable agricultural use and managem...

EFFECT OF LAND USE ON SOIL CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN SOILS OF THE DESERT MARGIN IN NIGERIA

 ABSTRACT Exploring the impact of changes in land use in soils of the desert margin soils in Nigeria .This research is a key component to global climate change. Soil samples were taken in two vegetation zone Sahel and Sudan Savannah under four different land uses( Forest Area, Arable land, Fallow land and Grazing land) at a depth of 0-15cm. The locations under Sahel Savannah are Goronyo ,Gamawa and Minjibir while the site under Sudan Savannah are Hadeija and Ulela. A 5x4x3 factorial experime...

EFFECT OF DRIP IRRIGATION FREQUENCY AND MULCHING ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

ABSTRACT Field experiment was conducted to evaluate the combined effects of drip irrigation frequency and different mulching materials on the growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L, Moench). The field experiment was 3 x 3 factorial using Randomized Complete Block Design. The factors were three irrigation intervals (daily, twice and thrice weekly) and three mulches (plastic, grasses and no mulch) and replicated four times. It was observed from the result that okra responded signifi...


136 - 150 Of 176 Results