Effect of Additives on the Thermal Conductivity of Loamy Soil in Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) Farm, Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

Effect of Additives on the Thermal Conductivity of Loamy Soil in CRUTECH farm, Calabar, Nigeria was investigated. The loamy soil and various manure samples was measured in simple ratio of 3 to 1 and thoroughly mixed, then dissolved in water and air dried using an oven. A Lee’s disc apparatus was used to determine the thermal conductivity of the various samples (Loamy Soil, loamy soil + Urea, Loamy Soil + Cow dung, Loamy Soil + Poultry dung and Loamy Soil + NPK). The results reveal that at no moisture content (after heating), loamy soil sample without additive has a thermal conductivity of 0.096W/m K and also thermal conductivity values varied with addition of Cow dung (0.135 W/m K), poultry dung(0.231 W/m K), urea(0.140 W/m K) and NPK(0.108 W/m K). It clearly shows that the thermal conductivity of loamy soil increases with additives. It was also observed that loamy soil mixed with fertilizer produced a thermal conductivity higher than loamy soil mixed with organic manure. Therefore farmers are advised to always dope soil in their farmland with (organic or inorganic manure), this will improve yield, since  plants growth are influenced by the microclimate which is influenced by thermal properties of soils.