Improving Productivity Through Effective Soil, Water And Nutrient Management In Liberia
Volume 2 - Issue 9, September 2018 Edition
[Download Full Paper]
Author(s)
Yanquoi H, Hiama D. P, Jones M,
Keywords
Poultry manure, Cow dung Mineral fertilizer and Arica 2.
Abstract
Research on soil amendment and phosphorus fertilizer to increase crop productivity in Liberia has been limited to cereals with less emphasis on rice. A field experiment was therefore carried out at the Central Agricultural Research Institute, Suakoko, Liberia to improve rice productivity through effective soil, water and nutrient management. The experiment consisted of a factorial arrangement of five levels of mineral fertilizer (MF), five levels of a combination of MF and cattle manure (CM) and five levels of a combination of MF and poultry manure (PM), arranged in a randomized complete block design with four (4) replications. The mineral fertilizer consisted of a combination of NPK. The poultry or cattle manure were applied at the rate of 40 kg. Different combinations of N, P, K at three levels of 90, 60 and 120 kg/ha were used to form sub-treatments. An improved rice cultivar (Arica 2) was used as the planting material. At harvest the tallest plant (96.66 cm), leaf length (13.050cm), maximum grain yield (3.98 tons/ha), above ground biomass (13.516 tons/ha) fresh grain plus straw weight (9.001) was recorded from PM + MF1. Number of effective tillers per hill (13.52), the longest panicle (23.11 cm) and panicle weight were found in plot supplied with PM+MF4. CM+MF3 produced the highest weight of 1000 seeds (31.93 g), ha-1). Although the highest biological yield was recorded from PM + MF1 treatment, but statistically similar result were found from PM+MF2, PM+MF4 and PM+MF5 treatments. It was obvious that yield of rice can be increased substantially with the judicious application of organic manure with chemical fertilizer.
References
[1] Adnan, A., D.S. Mavinic and F.A. Koch. 2003. Pilot-scale study of phosphorus recovery through struvite crystallization-examining to process feasibility. J. Environ. Eng. Sci. 2: 315-324.
[2] ArcelorMittal Liberia Limited. 2010. Environmental Baseline Studies Volume 1: Terrain and Soils Nimba County, Liberia.
[3] Central Agricultural Research Institute, 1975–1985. Annual Reports. Central Agricultural Research Institute, Suakoko, Liberia
[4] Ch’ng, H.Y., O.H. Ahmed and N.M.A. Majid. 2014. Improving phosphorus availability in an acid soil using organic amendments produced from agro industrial wastes. The Scientific World J. doi.org/10.1155/2014/506356.
[5] Frankenberger T (1985) Farming systems research in three counties of Liberia: A reconnaissance survey in Grant Gedeh, Nimba and Bong Counties. Farming Systems Support Project, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
[6] FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) 2002: World Agriculture Towards 2015/2030.An FAO Perspective, FAO Rome.
[7] Heffer, P. 2013. Assessment of fertilizer use by crop at the global level, 2010-2010/11.International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA), Paris, France
[8] Lehmann, C.J. and M. Rondon. 2006. Biochar soil management on highly-weathered soils in the tropics. In: Uphoff, N.T. (ed.), Biological Approaches to Sustainable Soil Systems. CRC Press, Boca Raton.
[9] Smith, L. E. 2004. Assessment of the contribution of irrigation to poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods. Water Resources Development, 20(2): 243–257.
