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COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF INTEGRATED APPLICATION OF COCOA POD ASH, POULTRY MANURE AND NPK FERTILIZER ON SOIL NITROGEN, ORGANIC CARBON AND PHOSPHORUS CONTENTS – INCUBATION STUDY (Pages : 15 - 19)
AYENI, L.S. and ADELEYE, E. O.The potential of integrated application of cocoa pod ash (5 and 10 t ha-1 ), poultry manure (5 and 10 t ha-1 ) and NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer (100 and 200 kg ha-1 ) was compared with optimum recommendation (400 kg ha-1 ) in enhancing soil nitrogen, organic carbon and phosphorus contents in an incubation study in southwest Nigeria. The treatments included eight treatment combinations of cocoa pod ash, poultry manure and NPK20:10:10 fertilizer; control and 400 kg -1 of NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer. The treatments were replicated nine times and sampled at 30, 60 and 90 days of incubation for soil nutrient analysis. NPK fertilizer applied at 400 kg ha-1 slightly reduced soil pH while treatments combinations of cocoa pod ash, poultry manure and NPK fertilizer at lower levels significantly increased (p < 0.05) soil pH. The treatment combination of cocoa pod ash, poultry manure and NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer significantly increased (p<0.05) soil OC, N, NO3-N, NH4-N, available P at 30 60 and 90 days of incubation when compared with control. The effects of the treatment combinations were more pronounced at 90 days of incubation. NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer applied at 400 kg ha-1 had greater initial impact on soil total N, NO3-N, NH4-N and P at 30 days. Soil organic carbon, N, NO3-N increased between 60 and 90 days of incubation while NH4-N was reduced due to combined application of cocoa pod ash, poultry manure and NPK fertilizer, indicating continuous decomposition of the organic materials and mineralization of organic nutrients. Combined application of cocoa pod ash, poultry manure and NPK fertilizer was more effective in reducing soil acidity, increasing soil N than application of high rate of NPK fertilizer alone. 5 t ha-1 of cocoa pod ash should be combined with 5 or 10 t ha-1 of poultry manure and with 100 kg ha-1 of NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer for enhancing soil N and P status. Download