Effects of leguminous plant residues and NPK fertilizer application on the performance of yam (Dioscorea rotundata ‘c.v.’ ewuru) in south-western Nigeria

The effects of cultivating and incorporating residues of previous tropical kudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides) and soybean (Glycine max) with application of NPK fertilizer on yam performance were evaluated at the teaching and research farm, LAUTECH, Nigeria. There were nine treatments: incorporation of legume residues (5 t DM ha^?1), application of recommended fertilizer rate for yam (90–50–75 kg NPK ha^?1) in the zone or 50% of recommended rate (45–25–37.5 kg NPK ha^?1), alone and in combination with residues and a control without residues or fertilizer in a randomized complete block design. Cultivation of previous legumes reduced soil nematode population (>200%) compared with no legumes. For both years, application of Pueraria residues improved tuber yield by an average of 15.8% compared with control. Fertilizer application enhanced arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization of yam roots but AM colonization was lower (～50%) in plots where Pueraria residues were incorporated compared with other plots. Combined application of plant residues with fertilizer improved soil organic carbon, total N, exchangeable Ca and Mg compared with application of NPK fertilizer. From these results, it is concluded that half of the recommended NPK rate may be adequate and incorporation of residues with reduced NPK fertilizer application may be a sustainable soil fertility management option for continuous yam production.     

Effects of organic fertilizers on yam productivity and some soil properties of a nutrient-depleted tropical Alfisol

Field experiments were conducted at Owo, southwest Nigeria to select organic fertilizer treatments most suitable for sustaining high soil fertility and yam productivity on a nutrient-depleted tropical Alfisol. Eight organic fertilizer treatments were applied at 20 t ha^?1 with a reference treatment inorganic fertilizer (NPK 15–15–15) at 400 kg ha^?1 and natural soil fertility (control), laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that organic fertilizers significantly increased (p = 0.05) tuber weight and growth of yam, soil and leaf N, P, K, Ca and Mg, soil pH and organic C concentrations compared with the NSF (control). The oil palm bunch ash + poultry manure treatment increased tuber weight, vine length, number of leaves and leaf area of yam by 66, 25, 21 and 52%, respectively, compared with inorganic fertilizer (NPK) and 37, 22, 19 and 44%, respectively, compared with poultry manure alone. Sole or mixed forms of organic fertilizers showed significant improvement in soil physical conditions compared with IF (NPK) and NSF (control). Synergistic use of oil palm bunch ash + poultry manure at 10 t ha^?1 each was most effective for sustainable management of soils and for improving agronomic productivity of yam.     

Response of soil properties and yam yield to Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae) and Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae) mulches

Plant materials differ in their chemical composition, rate of decomposition and suitability as mulch materials. Experiments were conducted during 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 cropping seasons for early yam cultivation at Owo in the forest–savanna transition zone of southwest Nigeria to study the effect of Chromolaena odorata and Tithonia diversifolia mulches applied at 0.0, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 t ha^?1 on soil chemical properties, leaf nutrient composition, growth and tuber yield of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir). Both C. odorata and T. diversifolia mulches reduced soil bulk density and temperature; increased concentrations of soil organic matter (SOM), total N, available P, exchangeable K, Ca and Mg, leaf N, P, K, Ca and Mg; enhanced growth and yield of yam compared with control. The values of SOM, total N and available P and leaf N and P concentrations increased with increasing mulch rate. C. odorata mulch and T. diversifolia mulch applied at 10.0 and 7.5 t ha^?1, respectively, was found to be suitable for yam production. T. diversifolia mulch compared with C. odorata mulch produced higher values of soil chemical properties, leaf nutrient concentrations, growth and yield of yam. T. diversifolia mulch produced 19% and 18% higher tuber yield compared with C. odorata mulch during 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 cropping seasons, respectively.     

Ethno-Practices and Adaptation Strategies for the Mitigation of Climate Change by Arable Crop Farmers in Osun State: Implications for Extension Policy Formulation in Nigeria

The study investigated methods used by arable crop farmers to mitigate climate change in Osun State, Nigeria. Data were collected with the aid of a structured interview schedule from 120 arable crop farmers selected from 24 communities. Age (b = ?.392; p < .05), household size (b = .190; p < .049), income (b = .182; p < .057), sources of information (b = .161; p < .105), and farm size (b = .258; p < .004) were significant with adaptation strategies. Strategies regularly employed included use of different planting dates (88.6%), multiple cropping (73%), and cover cropping (55%). The study concluded that arable crop farmers use sustainable methods to ameliorate climate change to the advantage of their production.     

西南地区严重旱灾的人为因素初探

2009年秋季以来,我国西南地区出现了历史罕见的严重旱灾,在综合分析这次成灾自然因素的基础上,着重探讨了以生态环境变化为核心的土地利用,水土保持、矿产开发和水利水电设施等人类活动对西南地区旱灾的影响.分析认为,造成这次特大旱灾的直接原因是长达连续7个月少雨的气象干旱,但水源涵养功能较差引起的土壤和浅层地下水调控能力丧失,矿产开发破坏地质水文环境,水利设施功能减退等人类活动也在很大程度上导致了灾情加剧.只有综合考虑西南地区的特殊生态水文与地质条件,通过流域综合治理,才可以有效应对气候变化对该区水资源和区域发展造成的不良影响.     

Changes in soil properties related to conversion of savannah woodland into pine and eucalyptus plantations,Northern Nigeria

Soil properties associated with six age-grade plantations of Pinus oocarpa Schiede and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., respectively, including nearby natural vegetation, were compared in the savannah zone of Nigeria. The soil organic matter, total nitrogen and exchangeable nutrients first show declining values with the increasing age of the plantation, then an increase and finally steady or declining values in the 0–15 cm soil depth. Usually the differences between the two youngest plantations and the oldest plantations, and the natural vegetation, were significant. In the 20–30 cm soil depth the properties showed a decrease or steady values over time, with the three oldest plantations showing significant differences from the natural vegetation. The soil pH showed an increased acidity over time. There was little difference in the soil properties between the two tree species. The implications of the results are discussed in relation to sustaining productivity and soil fertility. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Traditional soil and land appraisal on fadama lands in northeast Nigeria

Abstract. As part of a study of recession farming on the 'fadama' lands on a segment of the Komadugu-Yobe floodplain, a survey was carried out to investigate the local farmers' perception of soil types and management practices. The farmers are clearly aware of the differences in soil type on the fadama and they possess unique skills in managing their farm lands. The farmers classify fadama soils for recession farming by assessing soil texture and soil drainage conditions by feel and observation. Integrating such local knowledge into soil surveys will lead to better practical definition of mapping units and give soil names that have more meaning for the farmers.     

Preliminary evaluation of pineapple mixed-cropping systems for protecting reclaimed gulleys in the tropics: An experiment in Southeast Nigeria

This paper reports on research into the effectiveness of pineapple monocropping or intercropping systems (with cowpeas or egusi-melon) for reestablishing vegetative cover to check soil erosion on a reclaimed gulley in the tropical rainforest of southeastern Nigeria. High-density pineapple planting, intercropped with egusi-melon, was found to promote rapid vegetative cover, checked soil loss, improved soil structural stability and produced a high crop yield. Soil loss was moderate in pineapple plots intercropped with cowpeas and least in pineapple plots intercropped with egusi-melon. Increasing pineapple density enhanced the field establishment of cowpea and egusi-melon respectively.     

Nutrient availability and cocoyam yield under different tillage practices

Research information on the effect of tillage systems on cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott) growth, nutrient status and yield is lacking in Africa. The effects of zero tillage with mulch, zero tillage without mulch, manual mounding, manual ridging and conventional tillage on cocoyam yield, growth and nutrient availability were compared during 2 years on an Alfisol (Oxic Tropuldaf) at Owo in the rainforest zone of Nigeria. The surface soil (0–20 cm) was chemically analyzed before and after crop harvest and selected soil physical properties were determined. Concentration of soil organic C, N, P, K and Mg and the leaf N, P and K were significantly influenced (p = 0.05) by tillage, with zero tillage with mulch being the most effective treatment in conserving the fertility of the surface soil (0–20 cm). Soil fertility, as indicated by organic C, N, P, K, Ca and Mg, declined significantly (p = 0.05) over time in all tillage systems, but this decline was more pronounced in the conventional tillage. Zero tillage with mulch, zero tillage without mulch, manual mounding, manual ridging and conventional tillage reduced the soil organic C concentration by 20, 23, 23, 24 and 33%, respectively over the 2-year period. The decreases in soil N concentration were 25, 31, 31, 38 and 56%, soil P concentration were 13, 15, 17, 16 and 26%, and soil K concentration were 16, 26, 31, 37 and 53%, respectively. Tillage did not affect corm and cormel yields in the first year. In the second year, due to the elimination of ploughing, significant differences were obtained in the cormel yield but not of corm yield. In 2005, zero tillage with mulch produced the highest cormel yield (13.5 mg ha⁻¹) of cocoyam followed by zero tillage without mulch (13.2 mg ha⁻¹), manual mounding (12.7 mg ha⁻¹) and manual ridging (12.5 mg ha⁻¹). The lowest cormel yield (9.5 mg ha⁻¹) of cocoyam was produced by conventional tillage. Soil water contents in zero tillage with mulch and zero tillage without mulch were significantly higher (p = 0.05) than in the other tillage systems. Soil bulk density ranging from 1.21 to 1.40 mg m⁻³ correlated positively with leaf nutrient concentration and yield. Cocoyam can be grown successfully on zero tillage, with mulch and without mulch or minimum tillage systems on an Alfisol of the humid tropics.     

基于重心模型的西南山区降雨侵蚀力年内变化分析

降雨-植被耦合特征是决定土壤侵蚀的关键性要素,研究降雨侵蚀力的年内变化特征对于揭示不同区域降雨-植被的耦合特征、判定土壤侵蚀的危险期具有重要意义。该文利用中国西南山区439个气象站、水文站的逐日降雨量资料,估算了每个台站逐月降雨侵蚀力,并应用重心模型分析了西南山区降雨侵蚀力的年内变化特征。研究结果表明:西南山区春、夏、秋、季四季降雨侵蚀力变化明显,夏季最高,冬季最低。各季节的降雨侵蚀力空间分布与降水量相似,都表现出东南向西北逐渐递减的趋势。降雨侵蚀力年内分配曲线主要有"单峰型"和"双峰型"2种,绝大多数地区降雨侵蚀力年内分配曲线是"单峰型",峰值出现在6月、7月或8月份,青藏高原区域降雨侵蚀力年内分配曲线是"双峰型",有6月和9月2个峰值。从东南部向西北部,降雨侵蚀力峰值出现的月份不断推后。西南山区降雨侵蚀力重心年内先向北迁移,然后向南迁移,形成一个循环,这展示了季风气候影响下的西南山区降雨侵蚀力年内变化特征。