Soil productivity improvement under different fallow types on Alfisol of a derived savanna ecology of Nigeria

Heliyon

Taiwo Michael Agbede¹  Ibukun Elizabeth Olayiwola¹  Adeniyi Olayanju²  Charity Aremu³  Kehinde Abodunde Adegbite³  Babatunde Ajiboye⁴  Aruna Olasekan Adekiya⁵  Wutem Sunny Ejue⁵  Ayodele Tunmise Oni⁶ 

[1]College of Agricultural Sciences, Landmark University, PMB 1001, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria

[2]Corresponding author.

[3]Landmark University SDG 1 (No Poverty Research Group), Nigeria

[4]Department of Agronomy, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria

[5]Landmark University SDG 15 (Life on Land Research Group), Nigeria

[6]Landmark University SDG 2 (Zero Hunger Research Group), Nigeria

关键词: Cajanus cajan;    Tithonia diversifolia;    Pennisetum purpureum;    SOM;    Fallow;    Soil chemical properties;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Fallowing is considered an important management strategy for the restoration of soil productivity. Therefore, a three-year fallow of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) and elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) was established at Landmark University, Nigeria between 2016 – 2019. Leaf nutrient concentrations of maize (Zea mays) planted with soils taken from each fallowed plots after three years were also determined. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replications. Soil samples were collected from each fallow plots for physical and chemical analysis (bulk density, porosity, moisture content, particle size, dispersion ratio, soil erosion loss, soil organic matter (SOM), total N, available P, exchangeables K, Ca, Mg, CEC and pH.) before and at the end of the experiment. Means of data collected were separated using Tukey's HSD test at p = 0.05. Tithonia fallow improved soil properties and leaf nutrient concentration of maize compared with Pennisetum and Cajanus fallows. The order was Tithonia > Pennisetum > Cajanus. This was adduced to the regular return of plant residues to the soil in Tithonia fallow which resulted in high SOM (Tithonia increased SOM by about 23%, 7.5%, and 20%, respectively, compared with the initial soil, Pennisetum and Cajanus fallows) and increases soil N, P, K, Ca, Mg, CEC and pH and also stabilized soil structure by increasing porosity, moisture content and reducing bulk density, dispersion ratio, and soil loss. Therefore, plant species of high nutrient contents and high return of biomass to the soil are necessary for quick restoration of soil productivity in a derived savanna ecology.

【 授权许可】

Unknown