Green manures and poultry feather effects on soil characteristics, growth,yield, and mineral contents of tomato

Adekiya, A.O (2019) Green manures and poultry feather effects on soil characteristics, growth,yield, and mineral contents of tomato. Scientia Horticulturae, 257. ISSN 0304-4238

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Abstract

Organic amendments are relatively cheap and available source of organic matter for sustaining both the physicaland chemical soil characteristics, and crop yield. Therefore, twofield experiments were conducted in 2017 and2018 to determine the sole and combined effects ofTithonia diversifoliaand banana leaves, and poultry feather(PF) on soil characteristics, growth, yield, and mineral contents of tomato (Solanum lycopersicumL.). Thetreatments were: (i).Tithonialeaves alone applied at 10.0 t ha−1, (ii). Banana leaves alone applied at 10.0 tha−1, (iii). Crushed PF alone applied at 10.0 t ha−1, (iv). PF at 5.0 t ha−1+ banana leaves at 5.0 t ha−1, (v). PFat 5.0 t ha−1+Tithonialeaves at 5.0 t ha−1, (vi).Tithonialeaves at 5.0 tha−1+ Banana leaves at 5.0 t ha−1, and(vii). Control–no amendment. The seven treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design withthree replications. Green manures and PF either sole or combined significantly (p < 0.05) reduced soil bulkdensity and increased porosity, soil organic matter (SOM), nutrient contents, growth, yield, and mineral contentsof tomato crop compared with the control. When manures were combined, PF +Tithoniahas the highest valueof these parameters. PF +Tithoniaincreased tomato yield by 20.0, 53.0, 77.0 and 132.5%, respectively com-pared with feather alone,Tithoniaalone, banana alone and the control for year 2017, and by 28.3, 59.2, 73.0,and 237.3%, respectively for year 2018. The increased growth, yield, and mineral contents of tomato under PF+Tithoniawas due to improved soil physical and chemical properties and also due to the fact that slowlydecaying poultry feather may allow retention of released nutrients from rapidly decomposingTithoniawithin therooting zone, thereby fostering greater efficiency of nutrient release and uptake. Therefore, locally sourcedorganic material can be used in improving soil and crop productivity especially when they are combined.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	S Agriculture > SB Plant culture
Depositing User:	Mr DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR LMU
Date Deposited:	18 Sep 2019 12:52
Last Modified:	18 Sep 2019 12:52
URI:	https://eprints.lmu.edu.ng/id/eprint/2251

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