Soil Physical and Chemical Properties as Affected by Land Configuration and Cow Dung Manure at Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

A 3 x 3 factorial experiment was carried out under rain-fed condition at the Federal University of Technology Teaching and Research Farm, Minna to determine the effect of land configuration (ridge, flat-bed and mound) and cow dung manure application rate (0, 5 and 10 t/ha) on soil physical and chemical properties. Treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated four times. The land was ploughed and grown to Oba super 1 maize variety. Soil moisture content was determined at 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks after planting. Following crop harvest, other soil physical (bulk density, total porosity and moisture content) and chemical (organic carbon, available phosphorus, exchangeable calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium) properties were determined. Data generated were subjected to statistical analysis at 0.05 level of significance. Flat-bed configuration resulted in higher soil moisture content than ridge by 12 %. Also, 5 and 10 t/ha of cow dung manure gave rise to significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher moisture content than 0 t/ha by 30 and 23 %, respectively. Flat-bed treatment resulted in significantly highest soil organic carbon, available phosphorus, exchangeable magnesium and potassium content. Also, planting on flat-beds and mounds gave rise to higher exchangeable sodium content than planting on ridges. Application of 10 t/ha cow dung manure produced highest soil available phosphorus, exchangeable magnesium and potassium content. Interaction between land configuration and cow dung manure application rate had significant influence on soil organic carbon, exchangeable magnesium, potassium and sodium content.