OKOLI, O. A. (2004). Relative Fertility Potentials of Termite and Earthworm Ammended Soils Along a Slope. II. Carbon Mineralization. Niger Delta Biologia, vol. 4(2) 95-99.

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (C0₂) evolution is an index of carbon mineralization, organic matter decomposition and therefore nutrient release. C0₂ evolution in the laboratory was therefore, sued to assess the fertility potentials of small termite mounds along a given slope and earthworm costs relative to their parent soils. The experiment was in two part; a set was treated with 1 g dry straw, while the other was not. 200g of each treatment were incubated in triplicates and the C0₂ evolved at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 weeks were determined. For all treatments, C0₂ evolved were highest at the end of the 1^st week and then reduced with time, indicating a reduction in organic materials. With or without straw  addition, C0₂ evolved form termite and earthworm modified soils were higher and bottom slope, but not for the top. This was consistent for the middle and bottom slope, but not for the consistent for the middle and bottom slope, but not for the  top. With a cumulative 15 weeks, C0₂, evolution of 3.99mg/g and 5.38mg for earthworm and termite modified soils, respectively; the former appears inferior to the latter in terms of organic matter decomposition and hence nutrient release,   relative to their parent soil. There was also a positive linear correlation between cumulative C0₂ evolved after 15 weeks and crop performance form the same soils ( r =0.57).

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OKOLI, O. A. and AGBIM, N. (2004). Relative Fertility Potentials of Termite and Earthworm Ammended Soils Along a Slope. I. Crop Performance. Niger Delta Biologia, vol. 4(2)42-46.

Abstract:

A greenhouse study of the relative forestry potential of small termite mounds collected at top, middle and bottom of the Edega hill. Nsukka in Enugu state Nigeria ( 21^o average slope) and also earthworm costs at the bottom, along with the soils adjacent to each samples; was conducted over a two maize cropping periods of five weeks each. The different treatments were amended uniformly with poultry droppings at the rate of 10mt/ha after the first cropping. The dry matter maize yields of the termite modified soils at the middle and bottom slopes ( TMS – M and TMS-B) and  earthworm modified soil (EMS) were significantly higher than those of their parent soils (TAS –M, and TAS-B) and earthworm modified soil (EMS) were significantly higher than those of their parent soils (*TAS-M, and TAS-B); at both the first and second cropping, at 5% probability level. The yields of the termite – modified soils were significantly different, with respect to position on the slope. The total dry matter yields of the TMS-M were highest (1.36g plant), followed by that of termite modified and at the top of the slope TMS-T (0.87g/plant) and then TMS-B (0.75gplants). also at the end of the second cropping, the pH values (in H₂0) of the termite modified soils (TMS-T, TMS-M, and TMS-B) and earthworm modified soil (TMS-T, TMS-M, and TMS-B) and earthworm modified soil (EMS) decreased by 1.00, 1.40, 1.33 and 0.13 respectively, while those of their parent soils (TAS-T and TAS-M) increased by 0.27 and 0.17 respectively. The pH of the bottom-unmodified soils (TAS-B) remained the same.

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MBONU, O. A. and ELENWO, G. A. (2006). Effect of Different Organic Materials on the Structure of an Ultisol in Rivers State, Nigeria. Int. J. of Agric. & Rural Dev. Vol.7(1):61-66.

Abstract:

Organic materials have been shown to improve soil physical and chemical properties. A 12 weeks field experiment was used to assess the effects of amending soil with organic materials [poultry droppings (PD), maize straw (MS), cassava peelings (CP) and ripe plantain peelings (RPP)] on soil bulk density (BD), total porosity (P), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and soil moisture retention (SMR). Results showed that Ks, BD, P and SMR were significantly positively affected by all the treatments. At the end of 12 weeks, Ks increased by 508, 386, 344, and 172 percents for RPP, PD, MS and CP respectively. Bulk density dropped from 2.14 to 1.97, 1.98, 2.03, 2.07 Kgm3 for RPP, PD, MS and CP respectively. The same trend was observed for porosity. For all parameters measured, RPP better improved structure than the other organic materials; from the 6” week. The faster decomposition of this material, relative to the others, may have contributed to this.

Key words: Organic amendments, Ultisol

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MBONU, O. A. and OSSIA, S. (2006). Growth and Yield of Nsukka Yellow Pepper (Capscicum annum L.) as Affected by Different Organic Ammendments. Nig j. of Agic. Food & Environ. Vol. 3(1&2):72-78.

ABSTRACT:

Dry elephant grass, oil palm bunch and brewers spent grain were incorporated in an ultisol, in south-eastern Nigeria, at the rate of 24 tons/ha. These were planted to Nsukka yellow pepper (Capsicum annum L.), in a randomized complete block design and assessed for their effects on growth and yield of the crop. Plant heights were positively significantly affected by the dry grass treatment. The mean leaf area was in the order 55.54 > 52.32 > 37.00 > 26.20 cm for dry grass, oil palm bunch, control and brewer’s spent grain respectively. The brewer’s spent grain negatively affected both plant height and leaf area. The total yield after 6 weeks of harvest were 4.9, 1.65, 1.63 and 0.5 tons/ha for dry grass, oil palm bunch, control and brewer’s spent grain respectively. About 50% of the pepper fruits for all the treatments were of the large size excluding those of the brewer’s spent grain, which had 80% of the fruits in the small size range. Most of the exchangeable cations were enhanced the dry grass and oil palm bunch treatments. C/N ratios were also reduced by these two treatments.

Key words: Brewers, oil palm bunch, dry elephant grass, ultisol, yellow pepper.

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MBONU, O. A., OPARA-NADI, O. A. and OKOROH, K. G. (2006). Effects of Different Organic Ammendments on Seed Germination and Soil Physical Properties. Int. J. of Agric. Dev., vol 7(2):134-140.

Abstract:

A screen house study was carried out to assess the effects of three organic amendments (poultry droppings- pd, brewer’s spent grain -bsg and wood shavings-ws) on the germination of four crops (Maize: Zea mays, Cowpea: Vigna sinonsis, Okro: Abelmoschus  esculentum and pepper Capsicum annum), and on some properties; of an ultisol in Port – Harcourt, southeastern Nigeria. The four treatments, made up of the organic amendments were laid out in a completely randomized design replicated thrice, for each of the crops. Wood shavings were best suited for pepper and maize with 77.7 and 43.3 percents germination, respectively as against their controls of 59.9 and 333 percents. Brewer’s spent grain gave a germination rate of 60% for cowpea while the poultry droppings treatment gave 100% germination for okra. Generally, the wood shavings enhanced germination for all the crops. Organic amendments reduced bulk density by 8.2,4.5 and 38.1% and increased porosity by 10.2. 6.1 and 40% for poultry droppings brewer’s spent grain and wood shavings respectively. Wood shavings and poultry droppings significantly increased volumetric moisture contents from 0.37 to 0.50 and 0.43 respectively. There were inverse linear relationships between percentage germination and volumetric moisture contents for all treatments, with r-values of -006, -0.54, and -046 for PD, BSG and WS respectively. There were also the same relationship between percentage germination and bulk density for only PD and WS respectively. There were also the same relationship between percentage germination and bulk density for only PD and WS with r-values of -0.31 and -0.83 respectively.

Key words: Organic soil amendments, seed germination, soil physical properties.

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