Abstract
The study examined the effect of cow dung (beef cattle manure) and wood ash on the growth and yield of soybean in two acid soils (Typic dystrudepts) of south-western Nigeria. The experiment was conducted under field conditions at two different locations, namely, Epe and Ibiade (Ijebu- waterside) of Lagos and Ogun States, Nigeria, respectively. It was a 3 x 3 factorial experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments were three rates of cow dung (0,5 and 10 t ha-1) and three rates of wood ash (0, 2.5 and 5.0 t ha- 1). Agronomic parameters which included plant height, shoot dry matter and root yields, shoot/root ratio and the grain yield were determined per soybean plant. Cow dung applied singly at 10 t ha-1 significantly (P<0.05) increased dry matter accumulation of soybean during the growth season. Wood ash (W) applied singly at the rate of 2.5 t ha-1 also significantly (P<0.05) increased the growth and grain yield of soybean at both locations. The grain yield increase over the control was 46% at Epe and 28% at Ijebu-waterside. Cow dung applied at 5 t ha-1 in combination with 2.5 t ha-1 of wood ash significantly (P<0.05) increased grain yield at Epe. The grain yield increase over the control was 110% at Epe and 58% at Ijebu- waterside. These results demonstrate that tropical acid soils can be managed through the use of organic wastes for optimum productivity.
Keywords:
acid soils
agronomicparameters
cow dung
soybean
wood ash
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