Field Assessment of Influence of Organic Fertilizers on Microbial Profile and Sustainable Maize Production in a Flood Plain in Nigeria
Christiana Utibe Etuk,
Matthew Albert Ekpo
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 3, September 2020
Pages:
27-34
Received:
15 May 2020
Accepted:
2 June 2020
Published:
17 July 2020
Abstract: The stabilization and utilization of organic fertilizers in flood plain for sustainable agriculture in the tropics was studied in field experiment conducted at Etinan wetland soil (EW) of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria in the tropics during two cropping seasons (C. S.) to study the effects of two composted and stabilized organic fertilizers (poultry droppings, PD and cow dung, CD) on the microbial density and structure, soil properties, growth and yield of corn (Zea mays) according to standard procedures. The two treatments plus control, (the unfertilized plots) were arranged in a randomized block design with two replications giving three main plots; poultry manured plots (PM), cow manured plots (CM) and the control plots, C, which were sectioned into nine subplots on which was a total of 81 mounds on the study site. Results showed that PD and CD (450 gm2=4500 kgha-1) incorporated into the EW produced higher mean microbial density (Total heterotrophic bacterial counts, THBC=log 7.636 and 8.64, total actinomycetes counts, TAC=log 6.57& 6.62, diazotrophic bacterial counts, DBC=log 5.35 & 5.50 and total fungal counts, TFC=log 5.38 & 5.45 cfug-1) in both fertilized plots during the 1st & 2nd C. S respectively than in the control with 6.62 & 7.49, 5.59 & 5.52, 5.44 & 5.54, 4.5 & 5.49 cfug-1 of THBC, TAC, DBC and TFC respectively. It was also shown that PD and CD application into EW produced higher physicochemical properties, nutrient salts, compared to the C. Growth/yield of the test crop, Zea mays were increased in the PM followed by CM compared to C in the EW during both C. S. Using the mean difference of two years, plants of PM had highest grain yield (4.16±0.16t t/acre) compared to (2.84±0.31t/acre) and (0.09±0.23t/acre) of CM and C respectively. The effects of one time application of the organic fertilizers (without reapplication on the 2nd C. S) indicated higher crop harvest index, H. I. (0.63 and 0.64) of treatment plots compared to 0.19 and 0.20 of the C. Therefore, utilization of PM to soils is recommended for sustainable crop production especially maize in the flood plain and in the tropics as a whole. It is also recommended that the CD could serve as a suitable substitute in the absence of PD. Wetland soils in the tropics should be converted from the hitherto wasteland to useful and sustainable arable lands with the utilization of stabilized and composted organic fertilizers.
Abstract: The stabilization and utilization of organic fertilizers in flood plain for sustainable agriculture in the tropics was studied in field experiment conducted at Etinan wetland soil (EW) of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria in the tropics during two cropping seasons (C. S.) to study the effects of two composted and stabilized organic fertilizers (poultry drop...
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Climate Change Impacts on Human Health in Bihar
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 3, September 2020
Pages:
35-39
Received:
19 July 2019
Accepted:
8 April 2020
Published:
4 August 2020
Abstract: Climate change has become the serious and most concerned topic in the world. It has adverse impacts on physical, socio-economic environment and human health. The objective of this report is to find out the climate change patterns and scrutinize the vulnerability of human’s health to the climate change. This study includes the literature reviews and comparative studies of different countries. The findings of this study reveal the direct, indirect and psychological condition impacts of climate change. Due to climate change, the temperature is rising, deviation in seasons are ensuing, summers are extending, winters are getting shorten and rainfall has become irregular; hence vulnerability of human to climate change impacts is increasing day by day. People are becoming more vulnerable to calamities and temperature variability associated diseases such as heat stroke, heat extortion and viral fever by the virtue of vector and water-borne disease such as malaria, diarrhea, cholera, dengue etc. Women and children are more vulnerable to climate change due to lack of adaptation to temperature variability. Surprisingly, Apathy behavior of people towards climate change is reforming Bihar’s drought-prone areas into flood-prone and flood-prone areas into drought-prone. Public awareness towards health impacts of climate change could be a good initiative to reduce the vulnerability of women and children.
Abstract: Climate change has become the serious and most concerned topic in the world. It has adverse impacts on physical, socio-economic environment and human health. The objective of this report is to find out the climate change patterns and scrutinize the vulnerability of human’s health to the climate change. This study includes the literature reviews and...
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Effect of Trichoderma asperellum and Trichoderma virens on Allium cepa L. Growth, Damping off and Basal Rot Disease Incidence and Severity in Sri Lanka
Lankeswarage Nilupa Rasangi Gunaratna,
Nelum Deshappriya,
Sirimewan Rajapaksha,
Dehiwala Liyanage Jayaratne
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 3, September 2020
Pages:
40-51
Received:
24 June 2020
Accepted:
2 September 2020
Published:
23 September 2020
Abstract: Trichoderma species are frequently used for the biological control of phytopathogenic fungi and they have also been reported as plant growth promoters. In the present study, the effect of two Trichoderma spp. i.e. Trichoderma asperellum and Trichoderma virens isolated from the soils of onion fields on the growth of Allium cepa L. plants and suppression of damping off and basal rot diseases was evaluated under field conditions. The two Trichoderma spp. were mass cultured in a low cost medium containing molasses and yeast and added to a low cost carrier medium consisting of talc. Two formulations, i.e. T. asperellum only and T. asperellum in combination with T. virens were prepared and the formulations were tested for their effect on onion seedlings at the nursery stage and also on transplanted plants in the field. At the nursery stage, the two formulations were applied using two methods i.e. soil application prior to planting of onion seeds or priming of onion seeds with the two formulations separately before planting. Both methods reduced the incidence and severity of damping off disease while increasing the growth of seedlings significantly (p ≤ 0.05) at the nursery stage. Additional treatment with the two formulations as seedling root dips or soil applications before transplanting the seedlings in the field were effective in controlling basal rot disease of A. cepa L. and enhancing the growth of Allium cepa L. plants significantly (p ≤ 0.05) in the field.
Abstract: Trichoderma species are frequently used for the biological control of phytopathogenic fungi and they have also been reported as plant growth promoters. In the present study, the effect of two Trichoderma spp. i.e. Trichoderma asperellum and Trichoderma virens isolated from the soils of onion fields on the growth of Allium cepa L. plants and suppres...
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