The 2nd African Organic Conference – Mainstreaming ... - ICROFS

2 nd AFRICAN ORGANIC CONFERENCE 2012
May 2-4, 2012 in Lusaka, Zambia
DOES&SOIL&TYPES&AFFECT&PHOSPHORUS&RELEASE&PATTERN&OF&TITHONIA&DIVERSIFOLIA&
COMPOST&AND&POULTRY&MANURE?&
KOLAWOLE G. O.
Department of Crop Production and Soil Science, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, PMB 4000,
Ogbomoso, 210001, Oyo State, Nigeria
Email: oladejokolawole@hotmail.com
Abstract
In organic farming, use of organic ameliorants is a pivotal strategy for soil P fertility improvement in
tropical soils that are inherently low in phosphorus. Knowledge of P availability from added organic
residues in different soil types will be valuable for efficient nutrient management and in maintaining
synchrony between P release and plant uptake. Incubation experiment was conducted for 42 days to
determine P release patterns of Tithonia compost and poultry manure in three dominant soil types in the
southern Guinea savannan of Nigeria. For Egbeda soil (Oxic Paleustult), soil P decreased with increase in
days after incubation from 7.37 mg kg -1 in day0 to 3.41 mg kg -1 in day42 with addition of Tithonia compost
whereas application of poultry manure had no significant effect on soil P content. Soil pH was positively
correlated with soil P (r = 0.79), For Itagunmodi soil (Rhodic Paleustult), application of Tithonia compost
and poultry manure increased P significantly from 1.21mg kg -1 in day0 to 3.47 mg kg -1 in day42. Soil pH
had significantly negative correlation with P (r = -0.64) with application of Tithonia compost only. For
Majeroku soil (Abruptic Tropaqualf), soil P also increased from 3.27 mg kg -1 in day0 to 7.20 mg kg -1 in
day7 and declined to 5.85 mg kg -1 in day42 with application of Tithonia compost. Similarly, addition of
poultry manure significantly increased soil P from 3.32 mg kg -1 in day0 to maximum of 9.93 mg kg -1 in
day28 but declined to 7.95 mg kg -1 in day42. Soil pH was correlated with P (r = 0.68). The results showed
that P release patterns of Tithonia compost and poultry manure are dependent on soil characteristics that
may influence nutrient use efficiency by crops.
EVALUATION&OF&EFFECTIVE&MICROORGANISMS&(EM)&TECHNOLOGY&ON&MAIZE&(ZEA&&
MAYS&L.)&GROWTH,&DEVELOPMENT&AND&YIELD&IN&MOROGORO&TANZANIA&
SAIDIA PAUL SABAS 1 ; CHILAGANE DAUDI AMOS 2 ; ALEXANDER WOSTRY 3 AND MARO JANET FARES 3 .
1 Lake Zone Agriculture Research Institute Ukiriguru, P.o Box 1433 Mwanza, Tanzania
2 Iringa District Council, District Agricultural and Livestock Development Office, Iringa Tanzania
3 Bustani ya Tushikamane – Garden of Solidarity, P.O Box. 765 Morogoro, Tanzania
Corresponding author: Paul Sabas Saidia, LZARDI Ukiriguru, Box 1433, Mwanza, Tanzania, E mail
saidiapaul@yahoo.co.uk, Mobile +255 783 299 684 or +255 653 299 684
Abstract
The field experiment was conducted at Tushikamane Centre Kilakala, Morogoro Tanzania to investigate
the effect of EM technology on maize (Zea mays L.) growth, development and yield. Maize is a major
cereal consumed; over 80% of population depends on maize for food in Tanzania. Low soil fertility, insect
pests and diseases are among the primary constraints in maize production. This is due to continuous
cultivation without fertilizing the soil, poor and lack of proper measures to control pest and diseases. Most
farmers in both rural and urban areas of Tanzania are not aware with the use of organic fertilizers especially
the EM (Effective Microorganism) technology in agriculture to increase crop yield without the use of
agricultural chemicals or artificial fertilizers, the method of farming is inexpensive, capable of producing
high-quality products, high yield produces and preserving the environment. Therefore, this research work
mainly aimed at studying the efficiency of EM technology on maize (Zea mays L.) crop performance in the
field.
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BOOK OF ABSTRACTS