Mechanism(s) Underlying Interactions Between Cattle Manure and Mineral Fertilizer in a Maize Field Soil in Ghana
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Date
2021
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Agricultural and Food Science Journal of Ghana
Abstract
A 70-day laboratory incubation study was conducted to unravel the mechanism(s) underlying
synergistic interactions between organic and inorganic nutrient inputs to the soil. Soil from a
maize farmer's field at Kpongu in the Upper West Region of Ghana was amended with a factorial
combination of 0, 50% and 100% levels of the recommended rates (RR) of inorganic fertilizer and
cattle manure and incubated at room temperature in plastic cups. Deionized water was added to
maintain soil moisture at 70% field capacity throughout the incubation period. Cups were covered
with gas-permeable parafilm. Soil sampling was done at 7, 28, 42, 56 and 70 days after
incubation. The soil was analyzed for available phosphorus, organic carbon, microbial biomass
carbon, nitrates, ammonium, soil urease activity, iron, and copper at each sampling. The addition
of 100% RR NPK + 50% RR manure often results in higher amounts of the measured
parameters,synergistic interactions and supply of nutrients to the soil, with longer residual
effects. While all the under-studied mechanisms (improved nutrient synchrony, priming effects,
general fertility improvement fertility) contribute to synergistic interactions, the improved
nutrient synchrony mechanism is the most prominent. Farmers can therefore manage the timing
of the nutrient inputs well to capitalize on this mechanism for improved soil fertility.
Description
This article is Published by Agricultural and Food Science Journal of Ghana, 2021
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Citation
Agricultural and Food Science Journal of Ghana,Vol. 14. December 2021