Evaluating the Long-Term Effect of Integrated Nutrients of Pome, Cow Dung and NPK on Soil Chemical Properties under a Garden-Egg Field

Abstract

Soil amendments have been found to have a long-term effect on soil either positively or negatively, several soil management researches have been able to establish that sole application of inorganic fertilizer particularly nitrogen fertilizers can leave residual hydrogen ions in the soil which causes soil acidity over time. This study investigated the residual effects of different soil amendments of Palm Oil Mill Effluents (POME), cow dung, and NPK fertilizer, on soil chemical properties in two locations: Ekiti State University Teaching and Research Farm (EKSU) and Onu-Ijelu High School Agricultural Farm. The aim is to evaluate the long-term impact of these commonly used organic and inorganic nutrient sources on soil properties. The research utilizes a randomized complete block deign replicated three times to test the residual effect of the treatments. The research was divided into first and second trial, the result presented here is based on the outcome of the second trial. At the termination of the residual trial, it was found that organic matter contents of soils treated with cow-dung and POME increased while that of the NPK fertilizer reduced. There was a decrease in soil pH on soils treated with NPK fertilizer but found to increase on soils treated with POME and cow-dung. Other nutrient elements including exchangeable cations were also found to increase in soils with POME and Cow-dung. This phenomenon was attributed to mineralization process which made nutrients stored-up in these organic materials to be released slowly and at the same time reducing their loss from the soil. It was concluded that nutrients from organic sources have a longer residual advantage to soil and can be used in combination with inorganic fertilizer for better soil management. The findings from these result provides valuable insights into the long-term effect of these soil amendments and can help farmers and researchers make informed decisions about their appropriate and sustainable use in agriculture.