Agricultural Journal

Year: 2010
Volume: 5
Issue: 4
Page No. 269 - 272

Assessing Nutrient Potentials of a Soil Continuously Cropped with Xanthosoma sagittifolia (L) in Onisere Ondo State, Nigeria

Authors : J.O. Erhabor and W.A. Molindo

Abstract: Field studies were carried out in Onisere, Ondo State, located between latitude 6° 41 N and longitude 5° 11 E of South Western Nigeria. The aims were to assess the nutrients potentials of a soil continuously cropped with (cocoyams) Xanthosoma sagittifolia (L). The soil order is Alfisols developed from basement complex rocks and locally classified as Owo series of Ondo associations. The studies investigated the potentials of the soil to retain nutrients. Therefore, using this quality of the soil nutrient retention potential as a bench mark to encourage farmers to grow cocoyam continuously for a reasonable period without applying inorganic fertilizers. Randomly collected soil samples before and after planting during the cropping, seasons were subjected to laboratory analyses. The results showed significant (p = 0.05 ) difference in soil N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na, OM and pH within the period of continuous cropping. However, yield were not significantly (p = 0.05) different but morphological parameters (leaves numbers, plants heights and stems girths) differ significantly (p = 0.05 ) during the three seasons of continuous cropping. The experiment proved that the nutrients potentials of the soil sustained the continuous growth of cocoyam for a period of three cropping seasons. The potential nutrients retention of this soil was encouraged by its inherent nutrients and characteristics. Therefore, farmers may be advised to grow cocoyam in this soil without being apprehensive of inorganic fertilizer applications.

How to cite this article:

J.O. Erhabor and W.A. Molindo, 2010. Assessing Nutrient Potentials of a Soil Continuously Cropped with Xanthosoma sagittifolia (L) in Onisere Ondo State, Nigeria. Agricultural Journal, 5: 269-272.

Design and power by Medwell Web Development Team. © Medwell Publishing 2024 All Rights Reserved