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Dec 31, 2021Keywords:
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Enhanced Soil Chemical Properties, Nutrient Uptake and Dry Matter Yield in a Mineral and Organic Fertilization of Ginger (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe) in Umudike, Southeastern Nigeria
Abstract
Field studies were carried out in 2018 and 2019 at the National Root Crops Research Institute Eastern Farm, Umudike to explore the enhancement of soil chemical properties, nutrient uptake and dry matter yield in a mineral and organic fertilization of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in Umudike, Southeastern Nigeria. There were seven treatments consisting of sole and combinations of poultry manure, rice mill waste and NPK 15:15:15 with a rate of 45 kg N ha-1 regarded as 100%. The treatments were as follows: 100% NPK 15:15:15 (45 kg N ha-1), 100% poultry manure (45 kg N ha-1), 100% rice mill waste (45 kg N ha-1), 50% NPK 15:15:15 (22.5 kg N ha-1) + 50% poultry manure (22.5 kg N ha-1), 50% NPK 15:15:15 (22.5 kg N ha-1) + 50% rice mill waste (22.5 kg N ha-1), 50% NPK 15:15:15 (22.5 kg N ha-1) + 25% poultry manure (11.25 kg N ha-1) + 25% rice mill waste (11.25 kg N ha-1) and control. They were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Ginger variety (UG I) was used for the experiments. Soil chemical properties and nutrient uptake (N, P and K) of the ginger rhizome after harvest were determined. The dry matter yield at harvest was equally determined. Results showed that the application of the treatments significantly (P < 0.05) increased soil chemical properties with the application of 50% NPK + 50% poultry manure giving highest values for most of the parameters determined in the two planting seasons. The 50% NPK + 50% poultry manure significantly reduced soil acidity from a very strong acidity level of 4.80 and 4.90 (initial values before experiment) to 5.30 in each year. It increased total N from 1.00 to 1.30 g kg-1 in 2019, increased available P from 18.50 to 23.50 mg kg-1 in 2018, calcium from 3.6 and 3.20 cmol kg-1 to 4.40 and 4.00 cmol kg-1 for 2018 and 2019 respectively, effective cation exchange capacity from 6.76 and 5.95 cmol kg-1 to 7.16 and 6.38 cmol kg-1 and base saturation from 81.66% and 78.49% to 96.76% and 90.88% for 2018 and 2019. Nutrient uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the ginger rhizome were significantly (P < 0.05) increased by the treatments. The treatment combination of 50% NPK + 50% poultry manure gave the highest nutrient uptake in N, P and K for the two planting seasons. The dry matter yield of ginger was significantly (P < 0.05) increased across all the treatments when compared with the control. The highest dry matter yield of 12 058.9 kg ha-1 in 2018 was obtained from the combination of 50% NPK + 50% poultry manure. While in 2019, the highest dry matter yield of 9 868.4 kg ha-1 was obtained from the plot treated with 100% poultry manure which did not show any statistical difference from the yield of 9 702.3 kg ha-1 obtained from plot treated with 50% NPK + 50% poultry manure. The use of 50% NPK + 50% poultry manure was recommended for enhanced soil chemical properties and better yield in the study areas.
