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Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences Vol. 2(5) pp.123-128,August 2011
Available online Available online http://www.globalresearchjournals.org/journal/?a=journal&id=jabs
Copyright ©2011 Global Research Journals.
Full Length Research.
ANIMAL MANURES MINERALIZATION AND PLANT NITROGEN UPTAKE IN AN ULTISOL IN ABAKALIKI SOUTHEAST NIGERIA.
Okonkwo, C. I.1, J.N.Nwite1, C. onyibe1 , I.A.Nweke2 and C.N.Mbah1
1DEPARTMENT OF SOIL SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
EBONYI STATE UNIVERSITY, ABAKALIKI.
2DEPARTMENT OF SOIL SCIENCE, ANAMBRA STATE UNIVERSITY,ULI.
Corresponding Authors Email;cnmbah10@yahoo.com
Accepted 16th July 2011.
| Abstract |
Effective use of animal manures in agricultural production systems requires information on the net impact of animal manures on soil N mineralization or immobilization The processes of Nitrogen(N)-mineralization, N-nitrification and N-immobilization including CO2 evolution were studied using different types of animal manures as soil amendment. The objectives of this study were to measure the cumulative N-mineralization, nitrification , immobilization and evaluate how these transformations affect N uptake. High N-mineralization and N-nitrification were observed in 2009. The pattern of N-mineralization and immobilization were Poultry dropping(PD)>Sewage sludge(SS)>Goat dropping(GD)>Cow dung(CD)> control(C).N- nitrification declined in 2009 relative to both N-mineralization and N-immobilization. However, in 2008 and 2009, there was a surge in N-nitrification. Results show relationship between N-mineralization, N- nitrification and the Ncontent of ear leaves. The high N content of ear leaves of maize suggests that the animal manures used in this study could supply enough N to crops. The quantity of C02 evolved was significantly greater in the CD + soil relative to the other treatments. A stage of intense CO2 evolution was observed between 1-3 weeks of study, but declined as from the 6th week.
Key words: nitrification, immobilization, amendment, organic matter.