Effects of Organic Amendments on Soil Quality in Ago-Iwoye Farm Settlement, Southwestern, Nigeria
*Adedeji, O.H and Akanni, C.O.
Department of Geography and Regional Planning, Olabisi Onabanjo University,
P.M.B. 2002, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria.
*Corresponding Author’s email: hakeemdare2002@yahoo.com
Accepted on March 3, 2007
Abstract
The effects of the different treatments of organic amendments (plant residues and animal manures) on the soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM) content and exchangeable bases were determined on experimental plots in Ago-Iwoye Farm Settlement, southwestern Nigeria. Six plots were treated with animal manures (pig slurry, farmyard manure and poultry dung), and plant residues (Gliricidia sepium, Chromolaena odorata, and Azadirachta indica (neem), and a control were used during the experiments. The amendments significantly (P < 0.05) affected the soil organic matter (SOM), total Kjeldahl N; available P, exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K. The plots treated with pig slurry, farmyard manure and poultry dung encouraged the growth of larger number of leaves than those treated with plant residues (227 and 205 leaves respectively for pig slurry and Gliricidia spp). The soil organic matter (SOM) content varied with the different weeks of treatment, while the poultry dung treated plots exhibited a high percentage increase in SOM, so also the plots treated with Gliricidia spp (3.39 % and 2.69 % respectively). Organic amendments supplied sizeable percentage of the total need of nitrogen in crop production while also improving the exchangeable cations in the soil. Plant residues and animal manures were therefore relatively important to ensure and promote higher yield and sustainable soil quality.