Browsing by Author "Oti, N. N."
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Item Open Access Application of soil quality morphological index in assessing soil health of arable farms on isophyperthermic ruptic-alfic dystrudepts in Owerri, Southeastern Nigeria(R. Durson Associates, 2006) Onweremadu, E. U.; Opara, C. C.; Oti, N. N.; Uozoho, B. U.; Ibe, A. E.; Tom, C. T.; Onwubiko, N. C.; Nwokeji, E. M.Soil quality morphological index (SQMI) was used to assess soil health of arable farms on soils along Otamiri River in Owerri, Nigeria. Sampled points were identified based on physiography and linked using a transect. Three minipedons were dug at equal inter minipedal distance of 35 metres and sampled. Results showed that soils on a levee had the best quality (SQM1 = 3. 52), followed by Terace (SQMI = 2.83), Backswamp (SQMI 2: 75) and least in Upland soils (SQMI =2.64). Soil quality has a good relationship with organic matter (r = 0.92; r2 =0.84; 1 r2— 0.16; P-0.05). Results of soil properties were used to classify soils of the site as Isohyperthermic Ruptic-Alfic Dystrudepts (USDA. Soil Taxonomy).Item Open Access Discriminant functions for classifying erosion degraded lands at Otamiri, Southeastern Nigeria(U. P., 2002) Oti, N. N.This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of natural in-situ erosion on soil physico-chemical properties and to identify indicator variables associated with various degrees of erosion on a Southern Nigeria Ultisol. A preliminary survey conducted in 1997 had delineated four erosion phases on a contiguous sloping land within a watershed The erosion classes were Non-eroded (NE), Slight (S), Moderate (M) and Severely eroded (Sv) based primarily on Ap horizon thickness. Field experiments and laboratory analysis were done in/998/99. Definite consistent relationships that were statistically significant were observed between erosion class and some soil physical and chemical properties of surface 0–10 cm layer: Among these were silt/clay ratio which ranged from 0.29 in NE to 0.19 in Sv; fine sand/coarse sand ratio were 0.33 (NE), 0.31 (S), 0.17 (M) and 0.19 (SV). Soil organic carbon (SOC) declined from 1.01% in NE to 0.60% in Sw, and (Ca+ Mg)/(Al+ H) ratio, used to infer nutrient imbalance, also decline from 1.23 in ME to 0.43 in Sv. Aluminum saturation percentage increased from 33% in NE to 60% in Sw, and Ca/Mg ratio from I. 14 (NE) to 1.62 (Sv). Pedo transfer functions suggested that erosion–induced soil alterations are more process based than simple factor dependent. It is therefore recommended that in this environment the prediction of erosion hazard and the identification of erosion classes be based on discriminant analysis derived from silt/clay, fine sand/coarse sand, Ca/Mg, and (Ca+ Mg)/(Al+ H) ratios. Soil organic carbon and Al""" saturation are equally important indicator variables.Item Open Access Effects of potassium (K) sources and rates on tuber yield and storage life of white yam (dioscorea rotundata poir) grown in an ultisol of Southeastern Nigeria(U. P., 2014) Okonkwo, B. C. N.; Oti, N. N.; Okore, I. K.The effect of potassium (K) sources at two rates on tuber yield and storage life of white yam was investigated. The four sources of potassium were; defatted palm kernel cake (DPKC), poultry manure (PM), their combination (DPKC+PM) as organic K source and combined NPK fertilizer as inorganic K source while the two rates were 37.5 and 75.0kg K tha-1 (low and high rates) based on their K content and a control (no application). These treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications and the test crop was a local land race (Nwopoko). Planting was in April (on-set of rain) while harvesting was done at seven months after planting (November) in both 2010 and 2011. Healthy tubers of varying grades were selected from each treatment for storage studies over a period of six months. While in storage, the tubers were examined periodically for weight loss, rot incidence, sprout development and dormancy period. Tuber yields and storage data were subjected to analysis of variance. Two years (2010/11) mean indicated that among K source, poultry manure at high rate showed significant difference to the control and had 41.67, 20.48, 24.50 and 28.84% increases over combined NPK fertilizer at similar rate on number large (>1kg), small (<1kg), total number and total tuber weight respectively. Utilization efficiency test further buttressed the superiority of K sources at both rates over the control. Tubers from defatted palm kernel cake plots enhanced the storage life of the white yam tuber by recording the least loss in weight, rot incidence and sprout weight of 27.00, 9.40 and 4.75% respectively, and the longest dormancy period of 95.5 days. From the result, it can be concluded that K sources at high rate proved more effective than low rate. Poultry manure had significant increase over the control and combined NPK fertilizer in the tuber yield attributes. Defatted palm kernel cake enhanced the storage life of the white yam tuber significantly (P=0.05).Item Open Access Performance of pig slurry on a degraded sandy soil and the yield of irrigated upland rice (Oryzasativa) in Owerri, South-East Nigeria(Discovery Scientific Society, 2021-01) Ekpe, I. I.; Oti, N. N.; Okonkwo, K. C.; Nwankwo, V. C.; Orji, A.; Okol, N. A.; Aguwa, U. O.; Ojiako, F. O.A field experiment was conducted from December, 2017 to April, 2018 dry seasons at the Center for Agricultural Research and Extension, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, to determine the effect of different rates of Pig slurry on a degraded sandy soil and the yield of Upland Rice (Oryza sativa). There were 6 treatments namely T1 (Control), T2 (NPK 20:10:10) at 800 kg.ha-1, T3(10t/ha of pig slurry), T4 (20t/ha of pig slurry), T5 (30t/ha of pig slurry), T6 (40t/ha of pig slurry) and replicated 3 times. Each plot measured 2 m X 2 m with a 1 m alley between plots. Pre harvest and post harvest soil samples were collected from the sites at 0-30cm depth and used for the determination of selected physical and chemical properties. Grain yield was adjusting to 12 % moisture content and weighed. The experiment was mapped out according to Randomized Complete Block Design. The data generated was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant means were separated using Fishers Least Significant Difference at P = 0.05.The soil properties and grain yield of rice were not significantly affected when T1 (control) was compared with T2 (NPK) treatments. While the application of different rates of Pig Slurry when compared with the control and NPK rates revealed significant effects on soil properties and grain yield of rice. Grain yield increased with increase in rates of pig slurry application. Rice grown on plots treated with 40 t.ha-1 pig slurry gave the highest grain yield as it showed 95, 90, 85, 40, and 20% higher yield when compared with rice yield from the control, NPK, 10 t.ha-1, 20 t.ha-1 and 30 t.ha-1 plots respectively. Pig slurry application rate at 40t.ha-1 has proved to be a good rate for rice production with a promise that increasing the rate beyond this level may continue to give economic yield on a degraded sandy soil.Item Open Access Phosphorus adsorption characteristics of selected Southeastern Nigerian soils(Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 2005-01) Uzoho, B. U.; Oti, N. N.The phosphorus adsorption characteristics of selected Southeastern Nigerian soils from Ikom, Bende and Ihiagwa were evaluated. P adsorption isotherm was obtained by shaking soil samples with 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 ppm P in 0.01M CaCl2 solution. P adsorption maxima (b), affinity constant (k), buffering capacity and P sorbed at 0.2 ppm equilibrium solution were estimated. Also adsorbed P was correlated with some soil properties. The adsorption isotherm showed that the capacity to adsorb phosphorus varied in the order; Ikom> Ihiagwa> Bende. The values for the P sorbed at 0.2 ppm solution, buffering capacity, adsorption maxima and affinity constant were 43.28, 43.30, 34.48 and 12.95 ug/g respectively for Ikom, 3.86, 7.78, 29.50 and 0.21 ug/g respectively for Bende and 8.48, 10.00, 33.11 and 0.57 ug/g respectively for Ihiagwa soils. The capacities to adsorb P was significantly and positively correlated with soil clay (r = 0.94), exchangeable aluminum (r = 0.72), soil pH (r = 0.83), whereas the correlation with exchangeable calcium (r = -0.56) and organic carbon (r = -0.72) were significantly negative. The implications are that the higher the soil pH, clay level, exchangeable aluminum, adsorption maxima and affinity constants the higher the soil adsorption capacities whereas the reverse will occur the higher the soil organic carbon and calcium levels. The study shows that Ikom soil will require higher P fertilization rates than the other two soils for optimum plant growth. Also management practices involving the use of organic matter and liming as basis for P adsorption reduction would be useful for improved crop production in these soils. The use of P adsorption isotherm as a valid tool for P fertilizer management is recommended for Southeastern Nigerian soils.Item Open Access Quality assessment of Amangwu-Edda stream and its tributaries for rice production under irrigation(Agricultural Society of Nigeria, 2020-08-30) Oti, N. N.; Mbe, J. O.Rice is one food that has solved the food security problems of many densely populated countries like China, India, Thailand and South Korea, etc. Inadequate and uneven distribution of rainfall and declining soil fertility are among the major challenges militating against increase in rice production in Sub-Sahara Africa. The problems associated with rainfall can be addressed through irrigation, a concept that involves the artificial application of water to the land in accordance with 'crop requirement', throughout the 'crop period', for fullf-ledged nourishment of the crop. Water sources to be used for rice production under irrigation in Amangwu-Edda, Afikpo-South Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State, South-East Nigeria were evaluated for their quality in terms of salt content. Laboratory results revealed that the water samples had mean pH value of 7.04 and Ca, Mg and Na values of 18.03mg/l, 6.07mg/l, and 1.75mg/l respectively. Similarly, mean SAR, K, SO CL, TDS, 4, -5 and EC were 0.913meq/l, 2.05mg/l, 202.5mg/l, 99.715mg/l, 1,001.4mg/l and 6.3x10 respectively. The result indicates that the water quality is safe for irrigated rice production. Similarly the mapping units studied are predominantly clay loamy, which is very ideal for irrigated rice production, but primary nutrients were generally low, and should be supplemented with organic or inorganic fertilizer.